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Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is to undergo heart surgery and will step away from his role for 'a few weeks'.
Ainsworth's long-term assistant, Richard Dobson - who has worked alongside the 52-year-old throughout his managerial career at Wycombe, QPR and Shrewsbury - will take charge of the team during his absence.
The issue was identified during a routine League Managers' Association (LMA) health check at the end of last season.
He said: 'I went for the LMA health check in May and they found something with my heart. I’ve got to have heart surgery this week. It sounds dramatic, but it’s a routine thing they do.
'This has all been planned. Get behind Dobbo and the team, they will be stepping up. I’ll be off for a few weeks, and then I’ll be back.'
Gillingham chairman Brad Galinson added: 'We've known for many weeks about Gareth's upcoming surgery.
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is to undergo heart surgery and will step away from management for 'a few weeks' - and his long-term assistant Richard Dobson will take charge
Until Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Harrogate Town, Ainsworth was undefeated in his first 20 games in charge after being appointed back in March - winning 10 and drawing the other 10
'In typical Gareth style, he was deliberating about the best time to have it, but Shannon (Galinson, Gillingham Director) and I were concerned about only one thing - Gareth getting the surgery as early as possible.
'His health alone is the priority here, so it was not a conversation as far as we were concerned.
'When we appointed the best manager in League Two back in March, we also felt we were getting the best assistant manager in the league, so we have no doubt the team is in safe hands in Gareth's absence.'
Ainsworth, who was appointed Gillingham boss in March this year, had been unbeaten in his first 20 matches in charge until Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Harrogate Town, winning 10 and drawing 10.
The result leaves the Gills third in League Two, one point behind leaders Walsall and level on points with Swindon Town.
When Ainsworth arrived in March, Gillingham were 19th in the table, having just parted company with former Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman after only two months in charge.
