GILLINGHAM caretaker manager Ronnie Jepson insists he is the man to save the club from relegation.

Jepson was handed the number one role after Neale Cooper's departure on Tuesday and he is certain it is not too late to stop the rot.

He said: "I hope I'll be here at the end of the season with Gillingham having retained their League 1 status. When everyone is back fit we'ved got more than enough to stay in this league.

But Jepson appreciates time will be tough given the club's current financial situation.

"There can't be any drastic changes because of the finances," said Jepson. "The chairman's been up and down the motorway trying to keep the club afloat, so it's no good me knocking on his door asking for a few quid for players."

Jepson, who also worked as number two under Stan Ternent, says he only considered accepting the top job on a caretaker basis after consulting with Cooper.

He said: "I'd like to say how sorry I am to see Neale leaving the club. He's been a great bloke to work with. It was important for me to get his blessing to carry on and he was 100 per cent behind me."

* FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S 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.