NEALE COOPER admitted he was sad to be leaving Gillingham after quitting the job inside six months.

The 41-year-old left Priestfield on Tuesday after failing to turn around the club’s fortunes, with the Gills currently in the League 1 relegation zone.

Cooper believed he had done all he could and felt his efforts were getting him nowhere.

He said: "If the team’s not performing it hurts me. I felt like I was trying everything but still it wasn’t happening on the pitch and maybe it would be better if I left.

"Obviously I’m disappointed but you’ve just got to get on with life. It’s been a hard time at the club for whatever reasons with injuries and everything else.

"I was hurt by the performances and over the weekend I felt that I wasn’t getting a lot back. The performances haven’t been good enough.

"I spoke with the chairman over the weekend and he knew I’d been down. He’s been a top man and I appreciate he gave me this chance but it just didn’t happen."

* FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NEALE COOPER AND A PREVIEW AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S CLASH WITH HARTLEPOOL SEE THE SPORT SUPPLEMENT, FREE WITH THIS WEEK'S KENT MESSENGER AND MEDWAY MESSENGER.* KENT ONLINE BRINGS YOU ALL THE CONFIRMED GILLS TEAM NEWS AHEAD OF KICK-OFF, A HALF-TIME UPDATE AND A FULL-TIME MATCH REPORT, PLUS REPORTS AND RESULTS FROM ALL THE OTHER GAMES INVOLVING THE COUNTY'S MAJOR SIDES, ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS.