Gillingham were one of the favourites before the season began to gain promotion back to League One at the first time of asking. Yet, so far this season, the side are on their second manager and have not lived up to their full potential.
Stephen Clemence was appointed as head coach of the Kent side in November following the surprise sacking of Neil Harris at the start of October. The Gills topped the table after winning their first four league games this campaign, but four defeats in seven afterwards saw the club drop to eighth which was not up to the standards of new Chairman Brad Galinson. Clemence was chosen as the successor for his first managerial post but it’s debatable whether this decision is paying off for the American owner.
The Gills currently find themselves in ninth, outside the playoff spots only on goal difference. They’ve not made a bad start to 2024 though, just losing once to sixth-placed MK Dons. They were unfortunate in their midweek game against Swindon Town when Harry Mckirdy’s stoppage-time goal at the Priestfield Stadium stopped them from earning all three points. With 15 games to go this season, the possibility of achieving a top-seven finish is highly likely. Even the chances of earning an automatic promotion spot aren’t out of the picture and fans should be optimistic about a strong finish.
Connor Mahoney is the man the League Two side will need to rely on if they are to be successful over the next few months. A return of five goals and three assists so far this campaign is not bad for the 27-year-old on loan from Huddersfield Town. There’s no doubt he’s playing at one or two levels below his standard so his technical ability could be pivotal should the Kent side finish in the playoffs.
Gillingham are away to mid-table Newport County at the weekend and will be expected to come away from Wales with maximum points. It’s vital that they do, as games against highflyers Stockport County and Wrexham quickly follow. If the Gills were to go on a bad run from now until the end of the season, there is a chance Clemence’s first senior role in football ends poorly as owner Galinson is not one to stick around when the results aren’t going his way. He will want one thing this season and that’s promotion.
Clemence’s men will need to sort out their goal difference from now until May if they are to have a chance to earn a place back in League One. As it stands, Gillingham have conceded seven more goals than they have scored, and it would be heartbreaking if they were to miss out on a playoff spot because of it. There’s little reason to indicate that the 45-year-old’s side won’t go on to finish somewhere between first and seventh and if they finish positively, would be a force to reckon with in the end-of-season competition.
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