Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is keeping calm in the January transfer window as teams around them spend like crazy.
The Gills have had two weeks without a game, but have yet to make their move in the window. Ainsworth says they are “close” but there’s no panic.
He said: “Myself, (managing director) Joe Comper, (owners) Brad and Shannon (Galinson), we’re all working really hard. It’s not like we’re not doing anything.
“It is tough. It’s very tough. Some people are spending crazy money, crazy figures, but this football club has fantastic owners who care so much about the club. They will do it right by the club, but also try and improve the squad, as I want to as well. It’s a team effort. It’s a real together thing.
“I’m happy. I’ve done some of my best deals in the last week of the window. I really have over the years. It’s about my 30th transfer window now in football management. There’s no way that you start panicking.
“I think what people get carried away with, and I want to speak to everyone here, is just because other teams are signing players, it means, ‘oh, we’ve got to sign them. We must do the same’. No, I pride myself on being different, not just in the transfer market. In general, I’m different.
“We won’t get sucked into a game of signing players just because everyone else is. I think that sometimes if you sign too many players in January, you can mess the ethos of your squad up. You can mess things up. It also means you didn’t get it right in the summer at all.
“There’s a team in our division who’s spending a fortune at the moment and looks like they’re taking top players from the Championship. It’s crazy.
“If you start getting into those games, competing, it can end messy. So, no, we’re really structured.
“We’re really calm in what we’re doing, and we’re really happy with where we are.”
Weekend visitors Newport have been among the busy teams in the window. They head to Priestfield sitting bottom of League 2 and are hoping new additions can give them a lift.
Salford City have been spending good money this month but MK Dons continue to lead the way in that department, with Derby County defender among their latest recruits.
Gillingham’s latest accounts revealed the extent to which the Galinsons are bankrolling the club, and Ainsworth appreciates their input.
“Brad’s over (from America) at the moment with Shannon and that’s great to see him around the place,” said the manager.
“I love him being around because it just gives that feel of the completeness of Gillingham.
“Hopefully, we can give him a win tomorrow (against Newport).
“He’s certainly got the chequebook out for this club over the years.
“I think that both he and Shannon are fantastic people to have in charge, and the Gillingham fans know that.
“When I came in, it was always, ‘in two years, this club needs to be better than where it is now’. That was the remit, and we’re going to make sure that happens.
“Everyone wants it yesterday in football, especially the fans, and we understand that. That’s modern-day football.
“But we’re building, and we’re doing it right, and we will do the best for the club. That’s very important.”
With no games in the last week, it’s given the Gills boss and his assistant time to look at who could help them to get the club scoring more goals.
He said: “Me and Dobbo have had a couple of late ones this week, just because it’s been transfer window time, and we’re trying to do the best for the club there.
“We’re hopefully close. There’s a lot going on. There’s a lot of context into who we want to bring in. We’ve got one of the best defensive records in the league.
“We’ve lacked a conversion of chances at times. We’ve created a few. We haven’t scored enough. So can we create easier chances and can we stick them in the net?
“It’s really hard because we haven’t converted enough, but have we created enough easy chances as well? There’s always context to everything.
“What I am happy with is the way that we’re solid. We look like we’re in every single game.”
Ross County striker Ronan Hale is among those the club have been interested in, but Ainsworth wouldn’t be drawn on the speculation.
Asked directly about a bid for Hale, he said: “I’m not going to say. Obviously, I keep everything close to my chest and it would be remiss of me (to say).
“You’d upset quite a few people if you started saying which targets you’re after. There are a few names in there, but I won’t disclose any.
“The rumour mills is great, isn’t it? It’s brilliant for me. I’m not on any social media so I don’t get to see anything. Where are you getting all this from? It’s like a big game. We keep things private.”
The Gills had loan players Jonny Smith (Wigan) and Travis Akomeah (Watford) for the first half of the season, and Ainsworth was asked about their situation.
“Jonny Smith is still here,” he said. “Travis has gone back to Watford. He’s trained at Watford for a little bit, but I’m a big fan of Travis, so we’ll see what happens there.
“Potentially, they both could be here for the rest of the season.”
