Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has never doubted manager Justin Edinburgh.

Three wins from their last four league games have seen the Gills climb right back into League 1 play-off contention.

Before that, the club had won just one in 15, a run that included a televised FA Cup first round defeat to non-league Brackley.

But sacking the manager was never on the agenda, according to Mr Scally.

He said: “It was never in my mind and I am disappointed with the way a number of clubs have got rid of managers so quickly, after a run of a few bad games.

“I have been staggered by some of the decisions owners have made.

“You can’t give a manager six or seven games, or 10 even, and expect them to necessarily have it right because it can take that time to get a team into gear.”

Despite a rocky autumn, Gills are now well positioned for a promotion charge.

“We are not in a bad position and weren’t in a bad position two or three weeks ago,” said Mr Scally.

“I don’t throw the baby out with the bath water when things go wrong. What you have to do is be calm and look at the bigger picture. We had a good start to the season and some difficult games, some shocking decisions from referees that we have complained about.

“Each decision we have complained about we have been supported by the head of the referee division, saying they were wrong and they cost us points.

“It is frustrating and football is a thin line between success and failure and you have to be careful we don’t upset the applecart, just because we happen to fall the wrong side of that thin line.

“We will be judged over the season, not over a few games."