Mark Saunders.

Former Gillingham star Mark Saunders doesn’t know who the new boss will be but feels Mark Patterson will one day become a top manager.

As Gillingham’s search for a new manager goes on, Mark Saunders feels the club have a diamond in the rough waiting right under their nose.

The former Gills midfielder has tipped his old team mate, and current first team coach Mark Patterson to one day make the step up in the dugout.

The pair were part of Gillingham’s golden years in the Championship a decade ago and are still in touch off the pitch, despite Saunders living at the other end of the country where he is manager of Tiverton Town in the Evostick League South & West Division.

Although he has more experience than Patterson in a top job having been boss for 18 months he laughed off the suggestion he had applied, and instead put Patterson’s name forward.

He said: “I know he’s a mate of mine, but Mark Patterson, is really good with people, he’s good at getting things across, and he’s got all his A licences.

“He’s a very good coach, but that won’t be good enough for the Gillingham supporters, they are going to want to go for someone a bit more experienced.

“He will be a very good manager because of how good he is with people.”

Saunders who made 201 appearances in his eight year stay knows it is a nervy time for players at the club as they too carry on the wait to see who their new boss will be.

He said: “That can be a nightmare waiting around because they are not going to want to sign contracts because a new manager coming in might not like them, or the club’s out of favour players might be liked by the new manager. It can work for and against you.

“It’s a nightmare especially if you have got no interest from any other club’s it’s that waiting game that no one likes playing.”