The new football season is almost back upon us and for Gillingham’s Managing Director, Joe Comper, the summer has gone well.

With just four weekends now to go until Gillingham begin their new competitive season with the home Carabao Cup game with Luton Town on August 8th, it all systems go behind the scenes at MEMS Priestfield. 

KSN have been to see the Gills Managing Director Joe Comper about everything Priestfield – both on and off the pitch. 

“Things have gone well,” Comper told us. “I would say that we were very organised, we had the longer lists of targets earlier than I can remember, so that by the time we got to May and June work was already being done on a lot of our targets.”

“Take Jamie Brophy for example, we knew he was out of contract, but we didn’t know if Cambridge would offer him a new one and until it comes out on the released list, you just don’t know.”

“But the key thing is that he is already on our radar and the team were working on it before it happened. We hit the ground running for sure!” 

“Definitely happy with the business done so far,” Comper went on.

“We were under pressure which meant that there were a lot out of the building which meant that there was a lot to do, but I am actually really pleased at the way that the whole team has just slowly but surely chipped away at things… we didn’t panic and bring in five players in the first two weeks!”

“I have never thought at any period of time that we are in trouble and we have built steadily and consitently during the summer and if you look at the squad now, I do think it’s stronger now that when we finished!” 

“The conversations really started well before the end of last season as in what’s out of contract and what is realistic for the recuriting team and they then gave the manager the choice of what was out there and could come in, and then it was up to Gareth as to whether to stick or twist!” 

With the World Cup still ongoing, Comper admitted that the interest generated and continued is good as he explained, “Particularly if England are doing well, people remain interested in the sport, they are excited and there is a feel good factor.”

“But in terms of the business we do here isn’t as much as it might be and the only impact it may make is on the football side from some of the bigger sides who we want to look at some of their younger players, they are being kept around at the moment as their senior players are at the World Cup and that’s the “only” impact I’m finding from the World Cup.” 

We then talked about the “Fan Zone” currently being built and finished at Priestfield.

“Slowly but surely we are getting there,” Comper told us, “The area has been levelled, the fence is up, the tarmac has been laid, the 3G/kids play area has been laid. We had one container delivered but because of the heat, we can’t get trucks at the moment onto the tarmac to deliver as we’ve had a couple of weeks of this heat as new tarmac can’t be driven on means a little delay there but it is coming along nicely!”

“The units are in and I am still hoping for opening day opening. There were a few amendments to the plans, and so if we don’t get any hiccups that we’re not expecting, we should be OK!” 

“Season ticket sales year on year are good!” Comper told us, “That does surprise me sometimes year on year after a couple of years like we have had as you wonder if people will stick with it, but they have which is great!”

“The shirt sales have gone very well – I think the variety people have liked or loved them or hate them with the away and the third. I think we have produced something for everyone… Mr Maker is a big fan and it was good to get him involved even though in the end I’m not sure whether the third kit is his “fault” after all!”