Gillingham‘s assistant manager Richard Dobson has emphasised that not much will change as he prepares to take charge of the Gills for the first time.
Dobson will lead the League Two promotion contenders into their clash against Milton Keynes Dons for the first time as Gareth Ainsworth recovers from his open heart surgery earlier this week. Also working with the 52-year-old at Queens Park Rangers, Shrewsbury Town and Wycombe Wanderers, Dobson now will take charge at Priestfield for the foreseeable future.
“Respect The Process”
Gills enter the weekend in third place, having lost their first match of the League Two season at home to Harrogate Town, and are on the hunt to return to winning ways away to pre-season title favourites MK Dons. Speaking to the club’s media team ahead of their trip to Buckinghamshire, Dobson said of Ainsworth and his absence:
“Gaz was here Tuesday, his last day with us, so we discussed team preparation with him. Obviously, we are hugely respectful of his role in all of this while he is away. The team is very much in his mould, and it is for us to carry that on.
“There will be slight differences in terms of how we do things; that’s just natural, but we have to respect the process that we brought in as a group. It’s never about one person; it’s about all of us. As I said to the boys, if somebody falls, the rest of us are here to pick him up. In this case, it happens to be Gaz.”
“Make no bones about it; this lot are a side that could well finish in the top three this season. They have had injury problems, and it has been tough for them at this stage of the season with so many players out. They’ve jiggled the side about and put square pegs in round holes, but they are good players. They have a lot of match winners in their side.”
Writers’ View
It is going to be a difficult game regardless, but Gillingham will have to go into this game without Gareth Ainsworth’s presence. His players should be able to continue the brilliant start to the season they have had with Richard Dobson in charge. Consistency is key and they will largely play the same way they have done all campaign, and it is now up to the rest of the squad to keep that momentum while Ainsworth is away.
