Since buying the club in December 2022, Shannon and I have prided ourselves on being transparent and communicative with you, the fans. For that reason I would like to share my thoughts, reflections and updates on the past few months at the club.
I must start by thanking John Coleman and Jimmy Bell, who arrived at a difficult time, with the team on a poor run of form. They steadied the ship and since the Walsall game away from home, the work rate and performances have become more consistent. They leave with our respect and gratitude for their work as interim managers.
When Mark Bonner departed in January, we knew we needed to pause, take stock of the past two years, and reflect on lessons learned. Looking at the League Two table, it has become clear that continuity in management is key. It is no coincidence that the teams fighting at the top end of the table have had the same manager in place for some time. We acknowledged that we needed to find the right person to lead us for the coming years, without interruption. We also determined that success would only be possible for that leader if the club was guided by a solid, clear vision.
And so we embarked on the process of outlining that vision, including solidifying the team’s identity, staffing needs, and approach to recruitment, amongst other things. We tapped into the myriad of experts we have in the building. From the likes of Andy Hessenthaler, Ronnie Jepson and Joe Dunne, with their vast amounts of managerial skills; to club professionals James Russell, Deren Ibrahim, Pete Gill and Paul Timson, who bring years of EFL experience to the conversation. Additionally, Shannon, Joe Comper, Kelly Derham and I used our own areas of expertise—football administration, finance, operations, company culture, and management—to influence these weighty conversations. I am proud to say that as a result of this collaboration, we have determined a clear vision of what we and fans want to see from a Gillingham team: a group of hungry, hardworking players who look to get on the front foot and represent the people of Medway. It has allowed us to set about identifying the right people to lead us and we believe those people are Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson.
We have presented a two-year plan for the football department to Gareth and Richard. Their style and ambition align with ours. Of paramount importance to this two-year plan is of course recruitment. We have restructured the recruitment department, and we have solidified the multi-faceted process used to source and acquire players. The trained eye, analytics, and character references will all influence recruiting, with, as always, final decisions being made by the manager. I believe we are better prepared for this summer’s window than ever before. With a large number of players out of contract, we will have the ability to make significant changes to the team should the new management team see fit. Having Gareth and Richard in the building early, with nine games to go this season, will give them a head start to assess current players, plan for next season, determine the size of our squad, and to start participating in recruitment. This next six weeks will be valuable for them, the recruitment team, and the club in general.
We have also begun the process of offering some of our talented apprentices their first professional contracts. The success of Sam Gale and Joe Gbode this season has clearly demonstrated the value of our Academy. Part of our two-year plan is improving the transition between Academy and First Team by overseeing good quality loans and a high-quality coaching environment. We want to foster an environment in which more of our home grown players force their way into the First Team.
We know we haven’t delivered what we or you have expected. Please trust me when I say that an enormous amount of work has gone into the on-field part of the club in the last 12 months. I am confident it will start to be fruitful over the summer and into next season with Gareth and Richard at the helm.
Shannon and I are immensely grateful for the loyal support of the fanbase. Your passion and desire for success continues to inspire us. I want to assure you that we are still committed to this cause and that we are both working tirelessly, as are the dedicated team of staff we have at Priestfield. We will get it right. We hope that you’ll continue to stick with us.
Thank you for your support. Up the Gills.
Brad
