Manager Gareth Ainsworth believes he’ll be the one to turn Gillingham’s fortunes around – but ahead of the new season he’s also cautioned those expecting instant success.
The Gills start their new League 2 campaign this Saturday away at Accrington Stanley, with supporters hoping for a season of excitement after four campaigns of disappointment.
Ainsworth hasn’t made massive changes to his playing personnel, but hopes his input can work wonders for a club that has underachieved since the Galinsons took charge.
“We’ve worked on an identity and a sort of structure and organisation that we want to put in place,” said the Gills manager.
“This is going to take time. It doesn’t come overnight, an identity. You can’t do it.
“Look at Manchester United and Chelsea and what they’ve tried to do over the years. It’s really tough.
Manchester United still can’t get hold of something that they want and it’s taking time. He’s (Ruben Amorim) a great manager but it takes time.
“I’ve come into Gillingham and I’m not saying we’re anything like Manchester United, but I’m just trying to give a comparison to the way managers are different. They do different things.
“Players have got to get used to them and different identities and that’s as important as a 4-3-3 [formation] or a 4-4-2 or a 5-3-2. The identity and mental side is just as important.
“There’s a lot of games to come up. There’s a lot of times there’s going to be a rollercoaster, up and down emotions. I’m really pleased with the group where we are.”
The Gills ended their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win at Dartford last weekend.
Ainsworth has been keen to trim his squad ahead of the season but still has around 22 senior outfield players and another half dozen vying to get in among it.
Looking ahead, Ainsworth acknowledged the challenges of team selection across a long season and stressed the importance of unity.
He said: “Gone are the days now where I used to try and keep everyone happy.
“You just can’t do it as a football manager. But this game changes week by week really quickly. Day by day this game changes.
“It’s amazing that the first game that we build up to in pre-season, by about the fifth or sixth game, the team looks totally different.
“The formations look different. The style of play looks different. There’s all sorts of things come into it.
“I’m lucky that I’ve got probably 15 seasons of management behind me now and 20 as a player and you learn a lot from those days. So great headaches. Really good headaches because they’re all a great set of lads.
“All I say to them is stick with the plan. Stick with your role. No matter what your role is, it will be an important one.
“Whether you’re starting in that 11, you’re coming on in that seven, or you’re not involved, there’ll be a reason for that but you’ve got to get behind the boys. We’re all in it together.”
