Jason Brown has told KSN of his delight at being back with Gillingham as their goalkeeping coach.

The 33 year old returned to the club this week where he made his name before going on to have a career with Premier League side Blackburn Rovers and Wales.

Having seemingly been set to start the season with Sutton United, Brown has been coaching with Millwall and Arsenal Ladies over the past year, gaining himself a reputation as a high quality goalkeeping coach.

Now part of Justin Edinburgh’s coaching team for the season ahead, Brown has told KSN how he is delighted to have been given the chance to come back to Priestfield:

“It’s a great honour, a great privilege and for me it’s the right time in my career. A lot has happened for me in the past year losing my dad and there’s no better job for me to go into right now on a full-time basis.”

“It’s the club that gave me my first real opportunity in playing and now the same in full-time coaching.”

“Arsenal has been great for me and I have got some good friends there, but the Gillingham job was too good to turn down.”

“Justin Edinburgh approached me, we got talking about goalkeeping philosophies and the way he wants to go with the club. We share the same vision as to where we want to go with the team.”

“Being at Gillingham is great and the gaffer has a lot of ambition. We have some really good goalkeepers at the club and I’m looking forward working with them all and see if I can help them develop.”

The lure of working with such an experienced management team was one that was too good a chance to turn down and Brown is happy there are some people still at the club he knows:

“Working with the likes of Steve Lovell and Mark Patterson was a massive pull for me and these guys are Gillingham through and through.”

“With some new faces too, we should have the right blend to take the club forward and get it back to the Championship where it was in my time playing and where it should be.”

“The team are working really hard and the manager demands that.”

Joining Gillingham does come with one setback though and Brown has decided it’s time to hang up the gloves:

“I have decided now is the time to retire and I won’t be registering as player. It’s been tough for me in this past six months with my dad passing away and I mu desire for playing might well have gone.”

“This role has come at the right time for me and I can’t wait to get up in the morning and go into Gillingham Football Club.”

Brown is hoping the new additions to the Gillingham squad, combined with the talent that’s already there, will help the side push for promotion come the end of the season:

“Justin has brought in some decent players and after ending last season so well, there’s no reason why we can’t go on and challenge.”

“It won’t be for a lack of effort and on paper the squad looks strong. On the training ground the guys are putting is so much effort.”

“We will make sure we push them and give them every chance to get promoted.”

“I’m glad pre-season is now upon us as players just want to play games now.”

“It’s important that we have a good pre-season, but the results won’t count for much come the start of the season against Sheffield United at home.”

Having graced Priestfield, Brown can’t wait to step back onto the hallowed turf once again and is excited about the chance to be back in front of the Gillingham fans:

“I can’t wait to be back at a club where I am loved and wanted. It’s like a big cuddle having the fans supporting me and I will be doing all I can to get results for this club and getting it back where it belongs.”