Gillingham defender Max Clark has spoken of the positive impact new manager Gareth Ainsworth has had on the team after scoring an equalising penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Harrogate Town.
Clark, who stepped up to take the penalty with confidence, says Ainsworth’s upbeat and supportive attitude has lifted the mood in the squad, and he’s already seeing the benefits of working under a manager who demands quality and standards from everyone.
Ainsworth’s Positive Impact Already Visible
Clark was full of praise for Ainsworth, who is the fifth permanent manager at Gillingham since Clark joined two years ago. After only a few days of training under the new boss, Clark is already feeling the difference.
“He’s so upbeat, so positive and confident and backs the lads. I think that’s what we love about him,” Clark said. “He’s come in and put his stamp on things and just demands standards every day, whether you’re training, around the place, he just wants quality and wants you to respect everyone.”
Clark went on to say that Ainsworth’s leadership has already made a difference in the changing room, where there is now a renewed sense of excitement and energy. The defender also expressed his belief that Ainsworth will be a great success at the club.
“It’s only been two or three days (training) and he’s already got us buzzing in the changing room. There was a good feeling in there before the game (on Saturday), and even during the build-up to the game, we were all raring to go,” Clark added. “We’re looking forward to the next couple of games now.”
Penalty Success and Injury Update
Clark was handed penalty-taking responsibilities by Ainsworth ahead of the game, and the defender made no mistake, confidently dispatching his spot-kick to secure a point for Gillingham.
“We had a meeting (on Saturday) morning and he just said, ‘I fancy you on penalties. Do you fancy taking them?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, definitely,’” Clark revealed. “He backed me on penalties and it’s a nice feeling. I don’t think we’ve had many penalties this season, and I was buzzing when it came. I was confident and I knew straight away where I wanted it.”
Clark, who had been nursing a head injury from the previous week’s match, managed to come through the game without aggravating the cut. He is scheduled to have the stitches removed before Gillingham’s next game against Colchester United on Tuesday.
Writer’s View
Max Clark’s performance and his growing confidence under Ainsworth show the potential for improvement at Gillingham. The positive vibe brought by Ainsworth is clearly revitalising the squad, and if they can maintain this momentum, they will have a strong chance of improving their position in the table. The penalty success also highlights Clark’s leadership and reliability on the pitch, which is exactly what Gillingham need in their bid to avoid relegation.
