Gills new manager eager to maintain positive form.
Steve Lovell said he was a proud man after being announced as Gillingham’s manager until the end of the season.
Lovell had been taking charge of first team affairs on a caretaker basis since October 12 following the departure of Peter Taylor, and has lost just one of the seven games he has overseen.
Speaking to the club website following his appointment he said: “I’m chuffed to bits. It’s great to have the job on a full-time basis until the end of the season.
“I’m delighted it’s happened and I’m just looking forward to the challenge ahead. I know now I can look forward to January and perhaps getting players in to boost the squad ready for the next year and it’s just nice to be given the job. I will enjoy it, embrace it and I’ll give it 100% and hopefully that will be good enough to move us up the league.
“I will continue doing it the way I’ve done it for the last five or six weeks. I’m just preparing the boys for every game and making sure they’re understanding what is needed of them on a Saturday and if they don’t they can come to us and ask the questions.
“We will keep the fitness up which has been brilliant this year, keeping up the shape work but the main thing is the hard work. People need to roll their sleeves up and give 100% in every game and if we do that, with the ability in the team, we will create chances and score goals.”
Steve went on to reveal that the injury sustained to Billy Bingham is worse than first thought, and that will keep the midfielder out of action until March at the earliest.
He added: “He will be out for a while; being optimistic if we can get him for the last six weeks of the season it will be great. I’m gutted for him; he’s worked hard during pre-season and was playing really well but he’s a great lad and he’s still young enough to come back and be a part of this Football Club.
“Ben Nugent is back to full fitness. Bradley Garmston and Alex Lacey are not too far away.”