Gareth Ainsworth believes that Gillingham’s revamped changing facilities will help foster a stronger sense of belonging among his squad.
The Gills have invested in upgrading their home first-team dressing room at Priestfield, opting to put money into infrastructure rather than fund a pre-season training camp.
Manager Ainsworth said the improvements – which include new lighting, club badges and players’ names above lockers – will help instil pride and identity.
“I’m a huge believer that when you come to work, you want to belong here,” he said.
“When I first came in and saw the place, I thought the dressing rooms weren’t somewhere you’d want to come in every day and feel like you belong.
“I wanted to make sure that people feel like they belong here.”
Since the Galinsons took over the club, there have been improvements made behind the scenes at Priestfield, as well as creating a new club shop.
The players’ rest area had been upgraded, as have the facilities for teaching the academy players. At the start of last season there was a redesign of the club office spaces, including a new manager’s office.
The changing area was something Ainsworth was keen to get done and was happy to sacrifice a trip away to ensure it happened over the summer.
He said: “Instead of going away on a pre-season trip we decided to invest it in the infrastructure, the changing rooms and (managing director) Joe Comper was instrumental in helping with that and (owners) Brad and Shannon were like ‘Yep, great idea if that’s what you think’.
“I think having all the names there, all the lights, the badges, you’re Gillingham and it’s a proper, modern first-team dressing room now.
“Now when those players come in every day they feel like they belong here and they want to be here. That’s big for me.
“This identity thing is not just a rumour, it’s something I really, really want to nail. To be a Gillingham player, to play for Gillingham is going to mean something and that’s what we’re trying to build.”
