By Jack Nolan
June 6 2007

Gillingham legend Iffy Onuora has been appointed as coach at Gillingham FC. Scotland born Onoura, was the last ever Gillingham player to score a hat-trick during one of his three spells at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium in which he scored 55 goals in 170 appearances.

 

Following a successful playing career with lower league clubs and two spells at Huddersfield Town and Gillingham FC where he scored 133 goals in 500 professional league matches, Iffy retired in 2004.

 

Once retiring, Iffy became Paul Merson’s number two at Wallsall. However, Merson and chairman Jeff Bonser sacked Iffy from his role in October 2004, for reportedly showing a lack of respect to the players, and not holding the necessary coaching credentials.

 

Later on in the same season, Iffy was appointed a coach and youth development officer at Swindon Town. Following a poor start to the 05/06 season, the Swindon manager Andy King was sacked as manager of the club and Iffy was appointed caretaker. Unfortunately for Iffy however, he failed to keep Swindon in League One and despite being offered the chance to stay at The County Ground in a reduced capacity, Iffy chose to move on where he later commentated on Gillingham for BBC Radio Kent. The appointment of Iffy would surely be a huge boost to the club, with The Gills lacking in coaching personnel.

 

However, speaking to the KoS, Onuora revealed how he is in talks with a number of clubs. He said: " A few people have approached me and said they appreciate the work I can do and I am reasonably confident something will happen in the next week or two.

 

"Last summer was the first pre-season I have not been attached to a club and that was hard, I don't want to go through that again and hopefully things will be sorted so that I won't have to."

Despite earlir revealing e was in talks with a few league clubs about taking on a coaching role, and also a conference club about a possible managerial role, Iffy has chosen to go back to the club where enjoyed so much success. The signing of Iffy as first team coach is sure to be a huge boost for the club with The Gills lacking in coaching personnel, and hopefully help towards chairman Paul Scally's 'Target 1 Championship' campaign.