Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth is the SKYBet League Two Manager of the Month for August. 

The award, which was announced early on Friday morning, is Ainsworth’s first at Priestfield and his sixth overall and recognises Gillingham’s unbeaten start to the League season which is now part of a nineteen-game unbeaten League Two run. 

Ainsworth said, “It means a lot to me because to win this award is a team effort and the team have been right there for me – there is no way that you could do this on your own and anyone who thinks that you can is kidding themselves.”

“The whole team off the pitch and all the players have played a big part in this award, and what it means is that we are definitely going in the right direction!” 

“I don’t believe in the “curse” of the Manager of the Month”, the Gills boss said adamantly, but smiling, “but of course we will see this weekend. We are obviously proud to receive it and be recognised as Gillingham Football Club as a whole – I do think “Manager” of the month should refer to “Management” of the month as everyone involved in my staff and everyone who has bought into what I am – the deserve part of this award and I am really, really proud and hopefully it won’t be the last and we can keep winning games!” 

The Gills boss also paid tribute to the man at his side Richard Dobson and told us, “We come as a pair, we really do! We are very opposite – polar opposites in personalities and probably the way we work, but we do come together quite regular and when we do in in office, it’s always an open forum; I always want peoples voices, I always want people’s opinions – always!”

“I will never ever dismiss anyone for having an opinion as they are always valid, it’s just that I make the final decision!”  

“The best bit about Dobbo – and Pete Gill, Deren Ibrahim and the various people in the room, including Jack my analyst – is when I make that decision, even if they don’t agree with it, they always are right behind me and that is massive for me!”

“Not once has anyone said “I told you so” – I don’t think they would, but they never have! It’s always been when we walk out of the room and decide how we are going to play and what we are going to do, everyone is in unison!”

“Dobbo has been like that for me since day one and he means so much to me! He knows that – we have some nice moments together and he’s been loyal throughout!”