Gillingham defender Max Clark has been impressed with this summer’s recruits.
The left-back has plenty of new challenges in training after the arrival of wingers Aaron Rowe and Jack Nolan, along with big striker Elliott Nevitt and midfielder Armani Little – but he’s glad to see them.
“You can see the quality in the lads that have been brought in,” said the 28-year-old.
“You see the numbers they had last season which speak for themselves and how good they were in this league, getting assists and goals and to have them on board is massive for us.
“We have definitely got a strong squad and you look at each position, we are going to be challenging each other.
“The lads who have come in will only be helping to push us higher in the league.”
The Gills have been back for two weeks now and get their first run-out under new boss Mark Bonner when they play Millwall at Priestfield on Saturday.
Clark said: “The manager has put his ideas in how he wants us to play and we are buying into it. It’s a happy place at the moment and I think it will remain like that.
“The lads who have come in are really good, they have settled in straight away and I see a real togetherness in the group.
“We had a solid squad last season but we were just missing in a few areas and they have strengthened it a lot, with the lads who have been brought in, real quality. You can see that in training this last week, it is a lot different and they fit into the way we want to play.
“We are only going to benefit from the lads that are here.
“Last season when you played against the teams where they were at, they were real quality. It is nice to have them on our team instead of being up against them.
“Jack was at Accrington and he had lots of assists and goals. Scott (Malone) played in the games against them and I was happy to watch! He was really good. I could see he was quality on the ball, his delivery, set-pieces, finishing, the numbers speak for themselves.
“They all bring something different to what we had last season.
“Aaron is very good, sharp, Nevitt upfront is a bit horrible up there, something we need and he can finish as well. Little is a quality player in central midfielder.
“We are strengthening and the squad is really solid, it is very competitive and really good to be in. The new staff have gelled in quickly as well. It has been really good so far.
“The first week was very tough, but really enjoyable as well. With the amount of time we’ve had off it was enjoyable to be back in.
“It was the longest time off I can remember but I got to spend it with family and have a holiday. It was nice to see family and friends and relax.”
Clark was no stranger to Bonner having seen him around at Cambridge United during his loan spells there from Hull City.
He recalled: “I playing under Shaun Derry at the time and Bondz was the academy manager but always around the first team. He’s a great guy and was well liked at Cambridge and good with all of the lads.
“I am happy to be working with him and happy for him to be back in work because he did really well at Cambridge. The lads I spoke to that are still there really enjoyed working for him.
“He achieved a lot, got them up to League 1 and kept them there and that itself was a good achievement.”
Clark played 28 games for the Gills last season, joining after a promotion season with Stevenage. It took him a while to wrestle the starting shirt off Malone but he did in the end and finished the season strongly.
“It was difficult to start with,” he admitted. “I thought I would play more than I did, but I remained positive, worked hard off the pitch to keep myself ready for an opportunity if it came.
“I just gave it my all when I did get a chance. I wasn’t fully fit as I didn’t have that match fitness but by the back end of the season I was feeling really good and I didn’t want the season to finish! I was just getting back into it, enjoying my football.
“There were ups and downs last season, which you always get, you have to just overcome them.
“I really enjoyed being part of the club last season The club has great ambition and it is developing really well. The owner Brad is really backing it and investing to make it a better club and it’s on the way up.”
Ahead of this Saturday’s game, Clark is looking forward to heading back out at Priestfield.
He said: “Once you are back in for pre-season you just want the games to come around and enjoy playing again, get your match fitness back. We’ve done all the running and it’s been enjoyable.
“I still remember coming down here and signing under Neil Harris (now the Millwall boss) but that’s football, managers come and go, that’s part of the game we’re in.
“The new gaffer here has come in, you back him and he puts his ideas out there, you buy into it, play the way he wants you to and that’s the way it should be. There are no bad feelings. That is the way football is.
“He has done well there and he has got them going. Fair play to him.
“It might be strange for him coming back but it will be a good test for us and at this stage of pre-season it is all about getting fitness in you and setting out the way we want to play and building on it.
“We feel we’re in a good place as a team and a club, the owners have invested into the club, we’ve come back to an immaculate new canteen, the kitchens have been redone, the food has developed, they are developing every season and you can see the ambitions of the club.”
