As Gareth Ainsworth continues his recovery from heart surgery, assistant boss Richard Dobson has again been on duty this week as he spoke to the media after the controversial loss at Grimsby Town last weekend and ahead of Salford City’s visit to MEMS Priestfield this weekend. 

“Salford are a good side,” Dobson told us at this week’s briefing. “They had a game against Oldham last week which finished 1-0, but could have easily finished 6-3, they created a lot of chances; they flood bodies forward, have good individual players, good dribblers at the top end of the pitch, so we know it will be another tough game – as they all are – but this team have got some very good individuals in key areas and we will have to be at our best to deal with them.” 

“We always want to win, we want to win every game that we play, but sometimes circumstances conspire against you and doesn’t happen – we have had a good week again in training with the boys in good spirits and we will just take each game as it comes.”

“We won’t get too bogged down in results – we are process driven and as long as the processes are right, we will get results more often than not!” 

“Gareth and I have spoken a lot this week while his recovery continues. He is OK – the magnitude of what he has been through is hitting home and he has good days and bad days!”

“He is desperate to be back in and around us, but it’s sensible that he isn’t now and he fulfils his obligation to recovery and what the doctors have told him.”

“No one is going to rush him – you saw the picture this week of the Chairman and Joe (Brad Galinson and Joe Comper) going to see him.”

“The place is running like clockwork – the staff have been really, really good, so I think for his health the best thing he can do is to listen to the doctor’s advice.”

“I think he would have been jumping up and down at Grimsby last week on the touchline, so maybe it was good that he wasn’t there!” 

“Seriously though, off the back of the weekend’s events, I had a chat with the head of refereeing during this past week.”

“It was a conversation, exactly how a conversation like that should be between two people – he was very professional, showed good empathy; we discussed a lot of things, not just the weekend’s refereeing, but other things too within the game that I have slight concerns about.”

“He listened and is going to feed them back to a working group that is a collaboration of the parties in the game. I thought he dealt with it excellently and hope that they do their due process and feedback to the referees in the support that they give them to ensure that a young referee has a better future.” 

He went on, “We don’t want to lose young referees from the game – they are the future of that side of the game, and we do need to support them as best we can.”

“As tough as it is to take games like last weekend where you are literally righting off a game in your season, we have to still see the bigger picture – we want good people involved in the game and they are going to make mistakes when they are young!”  

Dobson then spoke about his squad. Remeao Hutton’s red card at Grimsby was rightly overturned so he will be available, but Jonny Williams won’t be because of his red for two bookings in the same game. 

Sam Gale is also missing with five bookings. On the plus side, Dobson is hopeful that Aaron Rowe may play some role in the squad.