Mark Bonner takes the helm as Manager at Priestfield.
Gillingham Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Bonner as our new First-Team Manager. The 38-year old has agreed a two-year deal at Priestfield and begins work with immediate effect.
Bonner arrives at ME7 having successfully taken Cambridge United out of League 2 to League 1 at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Managing Director Joe Comper said: “We are thrilled that Mark has agreed to join us. He has the experience to get us where we want to go. We were specifically looking for a leader with direct experience playing successfully in League 2. We were also looking for someone who had promoted a team out of the League and had the skills to build that sort of ambitious culture.”
Mark began as Academy Manager at Cambridge United before working under then boss, Shaun Derry, and Assistant Joe Dunne in the First-Team.
In January of 2020 Bonner stepped up to temporarily take charge of First-Team matters, winning four on the bounce which saw him given a two-year contract to take the role full-time.
In his first full season at the helm, Bonner guided Cambridge to promotion from League 2 by finishing as runners up in the fourth tier to Cheltenham Town. He then led them to survival in League 1 the following season. He remained at Cambridge until November 2023.
After arriving at Priestfield, Bonner said: “I am delighted to join Gillingham FC and can't wait to get started as Manager, as we get to work on preparing for the new season and building a team that supporters enjoy watching and a culture that the players love being part of. I have to thank Brad and Shannon for this opportunity and look forward to working closely with them, Joe, and Kenny to achieve the ambitions of the Football Club.”
The Club reacted quickly last week, engaging in a collaborative process to appoint Bonner. According to Director of Football Kenny Jackett: “I am thrilled to welcome Mark to Gillingham. Mark is a strategist and a thinker. He has proven himself in League 1 and League 2. He has a vision and an expertise on getting the most out of his players. I look forward to collaborating with Mark during this very important recruiting window. He has a specific way he wants to play and our department will do its best to give him what he needs.”
A full interview with the club’s new Manager will be on iFollow shortly. Mark will be presented to the media later this week. Mark’s backroom staff continues to be finalised and supporters will be updated in due course.
