The news comes after the club finished 12th in the League Two table, where they scored the second lowest amount of goals in the division.
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00:00 I thought I mean what a surprise
00:02 Well Sophia just two hours before the announcement was made that Stephen Clements alongside assistant head coach
00:07 Robbie Stockdale would be leaving Gillingham. The club was actually singing Stephen Clements's praises
00:12 They'd released an article taking a few quotes from the post-match interview with Stephen after the two-all draw here with
00:19 Doncaster Rovers at the weekend where Stephen Clements was looking forward to the next season and the summer window with a real positive
00:26 Light, but then of course just after lunchtime today the club released the statement announcing his departure
00:32 I can read you a few excerpts of it now where they've given their reasonings for the decision
00:37 They say that the expectations of the club weren't met
00:39 They say that the change is necessary for the best chance of promotion back to League One
00:44 Next season and that they'll be looking for a new appointment as quickly as possible
00:49 well, this comes of course after a season where Gillingham have finished in 12th now that was up from
00:55 17th where they finished in League Two in the previous season
00:59 No relegation battle this time. The main goal was to be in the top seven and to achieve a playoff place
01:06 They were hoping that by now after that Doncaster game, they would be gearing up for an eliminator game
01:11 But now it is of course all attention on next season and that summer signing window
01:18 We heard just a few weeks ago that Stephen Clements had a list of players who the club was
01:22 Interested in approaching hoping to bolster his squad going into the next season
01:27 He's clearly not going to be able to do that now
01:30 But interestingly his role as head coach meant that he wasn't at the forefront of the recruitment process
01:37 He would have the final say over which players were to join the squad
01:41 But he wasn't at the at the forefront of that process
01:44 so you would presume that that list that long list of players would stay with the club and
01:49 Stay with whoever takes over that job now just a couple of words on Stephen Clements
01:55 It was his first managerial position here at
01:58 Priestfield he has had some roles in the past in coaching
02:02 He was at the likes of Aston Villa where he coached the of course the England player Jack Grealish
02:07 He's the son of Ray Clements
02:08 Of course the legendary England goalkeeper and he worked under the guise of Steve Bruce quite regularly throughout his time at different
02:16 Clubs now, of course Steve Bruce is one of the names that last time there was a managerial gap here was put forward for the job
02:22 He said in recent weeks that he's interested in a return to management in whatever role that may be
02:29 but no doubt this will be just one of the many names who will be rumored and
02:35 Assessed over the next few weeks by fans in their discussions. And of course the bookies as well
02:40 We'll have more analysis on this decision by the club in Invictus Sport at 6 p.m. This evening
02:46 Bartholomew, thank you for joining us