Former Stoke City and Southampton striker James Beattie has applied for the Gillingham job.

The Sentinel says Beattie, now aged 36, has been out of work since leaving Accrington Stanley early this season, having kept the club in League Two last term.

He revealed his hope to succeed sacked Peter Taylor at Priestfield to broadcaster Sonali Shah on BBC Radio 4 this morning.

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally says there have been more than 70 applicants and he will soon start the interview process.