91Èȱ¬

Gillingham interim manager Peter Taylor says he would like to remain at the League One club permanently.

The 60-year-old is in charge while chairman Paul Scally looks for Martin Allen's replacement, a process which he says could take four to five weeks.

"I am looking forward to this little challenge. I was always hopeful that there would be a chance," Taylor told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Kent.

"But I was hopeful maybe it could be long-term and permanent."

He added: "At the moment it is interim. I understand why the chairman is going down that route as he wants to make sure he makes the right decision."

Allen was sacked as Gills manager on Sunday with the club 17th in League One, one point above the relegation zone.

Taylor previously spent the 1999-2000 campaign in charge of Gillingham, leading the club to promotion to the second tier for the first time in their history before leaving to join Leicester City.

And he says he is happy to be back at the Priestfield Stadium but is aware he needs to put a run of results together if he is to be handed the job full time.

"I can't believe it's been 13 years since I was manager here," he said. "I had a very good year and have got good memories.

"I'd absolutely love it [the job]. The Gillingham fans want to see some improvement.

"If you get good results you'll have a chance of getting it. If you have bad results there is a fair chance you won't."

Taylor was appointed interim boss on Monday and took charge of his first training session on Tuesday.

The Kent club have only won two of their 11 league games this season, but the former England Under-20 and Under-21 coach is impressed with the players at his disposal.

"Martin deserves a lot of credit for the squad he put together," he said.

"The attitude of the boys was very together and very upbeat. I think that is them getting on with football as sometimes managers change.

"I will encourage the players to play some good football. Hopefully they will see an organised team and one that will work hard for the cause.

"I spoke to Mark Patterson [Gillingham academy coach] and he said they are a lot like the group we had before.

"It looks a decent squad to me. They seem very together and want to win.

"You've always got half a chance if that happens."