Richard Dobson has been talking to KSN as he steps into Gareth Ainsworth’s boots ahead of Gillingham’s trip to MK Dons this weekend as the Gills boss recovers from his operation. 

“It’s a lot about trust and Gareth said to the players when he was here, and I said again to the players at training on Thursday, as I want to give him as few problems over the next month as I can as his health is the most important thing.”

“So, I need everybody pulling in the right direction so we can keep any pressure away from him as I know what he’s like – I’m sure when he comes round from the operation he’ll want to get straight back on the touchline straight away. He needs time, he needs to recover…” 

“Gaz was here Tuesday, which was his last day with us, and we discussed team selection as I’m fully respectful of his role in all of this whilst he is away!”

“The team is in his mold, and we want to carry it on in the same way whilst he is away. There will be some slight differences to things, which is natural – we have to respect the processes that we have brought in as a group as it’s never about one person, it’s about all of us and as I said to the boys today, if one of us falls, the rest of us are here to pick them up and in this case it happens to be Gareth!”

“He has picked so many people up over the years that it is now our turn to pick him up until he ultimately returns to Priestfield!” 

“The Galinsons have been brilliant, and I have felt a synergy with them since we were first approached eighteen months ago when we were looking at something abroad.”

“I said to Gareth back then that if you want to do this, I’ll be right there with you as I really felt that we were all on the same page.”

“Fortunately for us we got the job and I am really, really happy at the Club, I am really enjoying being here at the Club – Brad said to us that it was initially a two year project, but at the same time he hoped that it would be a multi-year relationship and I very much feel that way too – there are some wonderful people around this Football Club, and I think we are moving in the right direction – we’re further along than I thought we might in a short period of time and I honestly didn’t expect us to grow as quickly as we have done.” 

“But there is still a long way to go, and you don’t win any trophies in October or November – we are still very much a work in progress!”   

Dobson was then asked about the support he had received from within the Club and he told us, “Brad and Shannon asked me if I needed anything during this period and I have told them no thanks as I have everything that I need alongside me – I have absolute confidence in the staff as they know they will have to step up and do a bit more just to cover the loss of Gaz.”

“The players have been amazing and are right on side and have been excellent and I have no qualms about anything with them. I think there is a strong team ethic here anyway so we will cover what we need to cover and do the best that we can.” 

Squad news and Dobson confirmed, “We have a couple of niggles after last weekend which we are keeping on top of. It’s been great to have Seb (Palmer-Houlden), Shad (Ogie) and (Aaron) Rowe back around the squad as they get close to full fitness! We have a strong squad, and we believe in all of them, and I trust each and every one of them!”