Gillingham boss Martin Allen told Sky Sports News Radio's Football League Hour that he would have taken the Barnet job had he been asked.

On Thursdays between 7pm and 8pm on Sky Sports News Radio is Football League Hour, when the big names from the Championship, League One and League Two discuss the big issues below the Premier League.

On this week's show, Gills boss Allen, Birmingham captain Steven Caldwell, Scunthorpe's Michael Collins and Aldershot veteran Guy Branston join Dean Windass and presenter Mikey Burrows.

Ahead of Gillingham's clash with Barnet on Saturday, Allen, who kept the Bees in the Football League during his brief stint in charge last season, admitted he was gutted he wasn't offered the job on a longer basis:

"When it came to the summer, yes I did really want that job. I thought I could really build a good team there. I certainly would have enjoyed putting a team together that would have been competitive - hopefully challenging for the play-off places. I spoke to Mr Kleanthos and I wasn't going to be part of it"

But Allen insists he bares no hard feelings toward Barnet and he is looking forward to facing his former employers:

"I've got absolute total respect for everyone at Barnet, the supporters were so good to me. It's going to be a special day for me."

Mikey and Deano were also joined on the phone by Birmingham captain Caldwell, who expressed his delight at the recent acquisition of Swansea striker Leroy Lita on loan: "That's great news. I think he's a quality player who's done it for a number of years. He'll give us great strength in depth, and will give us more options.

"He's going to come here, get some games and give us good competition in the forward areas. The best teams have that competition"

Michael Collins joined the lads to talk about Scunthorpe boss Alan Knill's recent clash with a squirrel.

Collins revealed: "He said the squirrel was lodged in his tyre - but it seemed like it was serious. The ambulance was called. Everyone's laughing about it now, but it seemed like a bit of a naughty one."

You can listen in full to this week's show here, and tune in next Thursday for more from Mikey and regular guests, Windass and Blackpool goal machine Kevin Phillips.