Gillingham interim boss Peter Taylor has two more games to impress if he wants the job on a permanent basis.

Gills chairman Paul Scally has told Taylor that he will decide on his new long-term manager before the League 1 match at Sheffield United on November 16.

That means Taylor will be in charge for the home league game with Carlisle on Saturday - as well as the FA Cup first round tie at Priestfield against either Brackley or Barrow on November 9.

Taylor has been interim manager for three games so far, enjoying a home win over struggling Notts County and defeats to Port Vale and play-off hopefuls Preston.

The decision to make a clear deadline for a new permanent appointment was at the request of Taylor.

Taylor said: "I spoke to Paul on Monday and I think he is going to make his mind up on the permanent situation just before Sheffield United. That then means I am interim until then.

"What I have said to Paul is that I don't think it is healthy for the football club and I like the football club and I like Paul. It's not healthy for the football club to have an interim manager too long because it's not right. It's not right for the interim manager and it's not right for the players.

"I could be saying to a player, 'this is not working out, you are not going to be picked' but he could look at me and think, 'hang on, you're the interim manager' and I might not be here (for long) and so it is not an easy situation. He (Mr Scally) accepted that.

"Paul knows I really want to do the job and I am going to work as hard as I possibly can in the next two games, to get us two good results, which would then put me in a good position and I think then everyone will be clearer on what's going to be happen.

"I have done a caretaker manager thing before but it was just for one game. In my opinion an interim thing should only be short-term. That's the way I feel and should be the way forward for everybody. I am sure Paul will be doing some interviews and hopefully I am on that list and then we go from there."

The new permanent manager will then get a chance to make changes to the squad, if he feels that is necessary, before the loan window closes on November 28.