Evans reaches one year in charge at Priestfield.
Steve Evans has been celebrating his one-year anniversary since taking the manager’s hot seat at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Evans was the target for many clubs during the summer of 2019 before arriving in Kent, and he is delighted with the decision he made.
Speaking exclusively to the club’s YouTube channel he said:
“You always look back at the last six months and year and you think, did I make the right decision?
“I think I did, I believe I did. I have an outstanding relationship with the board, the Chairman and the Chief Executive.
“The people of Gillingham too have been nothing but fantastic to me, they’re very passionate of their Football Club and I look at the big atmospheres.
“Like Sunderland, when we played Doncaster in that cup tie and when we played West Ham. When we’ve played the bigger clubs you just realise how important that Rainham End is.
“The Gillingham supporters, they’re great people. They’ve just been outstanding to me.”
The Manager says he is very pleased with the atmosphere that has been created in the dressing room. He added: “On the whole, led by our skipper Max Ehmer, the dressing room has been first class.
“The one performance that sticks in my mind which was very, very good but we didn’t get the credit for was away at Portman Road when we played Ipswich.
“We played exceptionally well and I think the one disappointing thing is that we didn’t leave Portman Road with a victory following our performance.
“If you’re talking about the character, Blackpool away. We’re not in the game, we get ourselves in front, conceded in the 91st minute and we win it in the 95th minute. That’s character."
One player who has caught the eye this season has been defender Jack Tucker who has developed an excellent partnership with Captain Max Ehmer in the centre of defence.
Having signed a new contract in December, Evans was full of praise for the 20-year-old. He said:
“Jack Tucker has stepped up. I said to Paul Raynor that he could play in the Premier League, in time. He’s not ready yet, but he could certainly play in the Championship tomorrow.”
There has been no football for the Gills since the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in March due to the current pandemic, and the Manager has called on the club's supporters to keep following government guidelines.
He added: “Just stay strong, stay safe, that’s massively important.
“To everyone at Gillingham, we hope you’re safe, we are desperate for football to come back.
“Initially if it’s without supporters, if I’m being honest it won’t feel the same, but the result will still be the same. You win, you draw or you lose.”