Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth said he got the thumbs up from the chairman after his return to America this week.
Brad Galinson had been over from the States in the last few weeks, overseeing a transfer window that saw three new recruits arrive, while results on the pitch have been mixed.
The Gills ended a nine-game winless run with back-to-back victories over the bottom two sides, then lost heavily at home to leaders Bromley and suffered a narrow loss on Tuesday night, a result that sent victors Notts County second in the table.
Gillingham could still make a charge for the play-offs this season, but Ainsworth has a two-year remit after taking charge and that remains key to his thinking.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s home game against Tranmere, he said: “I spoke with Brad Galinson, who’s gone back to the States, but he’s coming back over at some stage this season. He was saying, ‘Look, absolutely fine’.
“There’s a remit. Obviously, at the end of the 2026-27 season, we know where we want to be, but we’re on track. There are signs that we are.
“We have grown as a team and grown as a club. I’m happy with that. It’s definitely something that I’m proud of.
“Everybody in football wants it yesterday. They all want promotion. They all want to be top of the league. That’s football in general. Any club, not just Gillingham. I understand that.
“I’m lucky I’ve got a knowledgeable bunch of fans. I’ve got a steady set of players. I think they all know that this long-term plan is something that I’m buying into and I want to make sure it happens.”
He added: “I still think we’re in a really good place. There’s 18 games to go.
“The squad I’ve got is capable of beating anyone in the league. We’ve proved that in the second half of games against Bromley and Notts County.
“We’ve come away with nothing. I appreciate that. But I believe in these boys and I believe in what me and my staff can do.”
Midweek opponents Notts County were one of the form teams in the division, and now the Gills face a Tranmere side who have lost their last five matches.
Expectations will be on Gillingham to win.
Ainsworth said: “Their manager is going to have his team ready for a battle, ready for a fight.
“They’ve been on a bit of a dodgy run, so we’re expecting nothing but a tough game, which we always do at Priestfield.
“They’re definitely a team that we’ll have to have huge respect for.
“We went up there and were lucky to get a 1-1. I go back to decisions. Their goal was offside in a big way. But, we had to poke one home from a corner to equalise and take a point away from there.
“It’s amazing how the league transforms as the games go, where teams end up.
“I don’t think anyone thought Tranmere would be in the bottom half of the table. We’ve got to respect them.”
Tranmere could include Omari Patrick in their side, a player heavily linked with a move to Gillingham in the January transfer window.
Ainsworth said of the speculation: “I’m not going to say it in the press if there was. Omari had a great start to the season. He scored a lot of goals.
“I think he had an injury and an operation during his first half of the season as well. If he plays, he’s a quality player, because he’s in League 2 as a professional footballer. There’s many of them.
“There were a lot of players linked with us on deadline day. It’s Gillingham. I’m proud of that. It’s nice to be linked.”
