Gillingham

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth says he believes he has the best squad in League Two.

The Gills won 4-1 at Rotherham United on Saturday to move fourth in the table.

But although they still lag three points behind leaders Salford City, Ainsworth was bullish about comparisons to the table-toppers.

"I feel I've got the best squad in the league. I'll say that outwardly now," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"Salford may have a lot money and spent it, but I think I've got this committed bunch that stay in games - and how many times have our subs made an impact?

"I want to play them all but I can only put 11 on the pitch."

Ainsworth credited his assistant manager Steven Craig, and first-team coach Peter Gill, for the half-time tactical tweak that saw Gillingham get on top in the game, having gone in level at 1-1.

"When I've got a million and one things going into my head, they're calmly thinking we should just drop a little bit and screen, rather than going all-out press," Ainsworth added.

"That worked a treat in the second half. We delayed our press a little bit and we took control again."

Gillingham midfielder James Brophy believes his side have put themselves into a good position in League Two after a decent start to the season.

The Gills are currently 10th in the table, taking 13 points from their opening nine matches.

In 2025-26, they sat top of the division after nine matches with six wins but later fell away to end up 17th.

Brophy arrived in the summer after helping Cambridge United achieve automatic promotion back to League One last season.

The 32-year-old told BBC Radio Kent it is a key period: "We've been hit with a number of injuries so sometimes it's been hard to find our rhythm.

"Generally as a team the patterns and the gelling has come together a lot more and we're starting to understand what 'good' looks like for us and trying to find consistency.

"We've got a real opportunity over this busy period in the next few weeks to try and make a good dent in the league and push ourselves as high up as we can."

Brophy has already scored three goals in this campaign, including two in their 4-1 win at Rochdale.

"Three goals in a month is very good number for me, but most importantly as a team we had a good month and put ourselves in a position where we can really attack the next set of games," he said.

Gillingham play five league games in the next 21 days and Brophy says he's enjoying drawing on his experience having notched up over 400 EFL appearances at Cambrige, Leyton Orient and Swindon.

"I like to think I'm one the youngest of the older ones," he added. "It's nice to be able to pass things on, being one of the more experienced ones.

"We've got a good leadership group in the changing-room so I don't have to be the most vocal one.

"We have a lot of younger players who have a really high ceiling, a lot of individual ability and it's just for us to try and get them to consistently show that, become better players and reach their potential."

The Gills visit Rotherham on Saturday (15:00).

Image source, Shutterstock

Hartlepool United have signed defender Max Clark on a deal running until January.

Clark, 30, was a free agent after leaving Gillingham, where he had played more than 100 games, in the summer.

His career has taken him around the EFL as well as spending almost three years in the Netherlands with Vitesse Arnhem.

He is the second player signed by head coach Pete Wild after midfielder Jack Earing and is available for Saturday's trip to Forest Green Rovers (17:30 BST).

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth says he believes some opponents in League Two are "fearing" visits to Priestfield Stadium.

The Gills were held to a goalless draw by Newport County on Saturday, after impressing in wins over Bristol Rovers and Tranmere Rovers in their previous two home league games.

"I think the teams that are probably looking at surviving in the league are going to come here and shut up shop," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent.

"[They will say] let's stop Gillingham doing what they do, because everyone is now looking at us going, the way you're playing, you're good at home.

"I wanted Priestfield to be this place and now they're fearing it.

"That's the first step. Let's get the second step and start scoring some goals here."

Ainsworth added: "Newport have come and sat in. They've changed their style, they've gone five at the back and denied all the space in behind and sat in their half.

"It's tough to break a team down like that, but what we have to do is take it as a massive compliment."

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth has said experienced striker Tom Eaves will give his side a different type of option up front.

The 34-year-old re-signed for Gillingham earlier this week, having scored 40 goals in his previous two-season spell at the club before leaving for Hull City in 2019.

Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent: "He's definitely somebody who will be feared in League Two.

"He scored 10 goals last season [for Northampton, then in League One] and has had a really good career of Championship games.

"Gillingham was the best spell of his career and we hope that continues."

Speaking before Saturday's game against Newport County (15:00 BST), Ainsworth said Eaves is fit but not quite fully match fit.

"He gives us something that is different to the style we've been employing and that's nice to have," added the former Wycombe, QPR and Shrewsbury boss.

"His size alone will put fear into defenders, never mind the way he can score goals and win headers, and he's more mobile than people think.

"I'm very happy to have him but very happy where we are in the league with the group we've started the season with."

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth says potentially losing deadline day signing Eli King to a knee injury would be "a big blow".

King, brought in from Cardiff City, was forced off 31 minutes into the Gills' 3-0 League Two defeat at York City on Saturday.

He will be assessed to check the extent of the injury.

"It's a twist with no one near him and that can be concerning for somebody who's had a knee injury before, so we'll have a look at that," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent after the game.

"He's not on crutches, he's walking over clapping the fans at the end which is positive.

"Losing Eli was huge for us. It's a big blow, he's been fantastic for us and the way we play."

It was the second substitution Ainsworth had to make in the defeat at York, after Will Goodwin went off in the 19th minute.

"We'll have a game soon where no one will get injured. I don't know if we've had one, but it doesn't feel like it," he said.

Ainsworth added that Nottingham Forest loanee Lamin Sillah missed the match to observe concussion protocols after sustaining a "bang on the head" in training, but would return soon.

Gareth Ainsworth says he will not get carried away with Gillingham's improving form.

The Gills sit fourth in League Two, three points behind leaders Barnet, after three consecutive wins and are unbeaten in six since their opening day defeat by Walsall.

They swept away Bristol Rovers at Priestfield on Saturday, with the Gas considered among the promotion favourites.

"The way we're playing, the way we're defending, I think we've got something special at the moment," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent.

"[But] I've got to be very wary of feeling too good. We're on this path but I know there's some pitfalls, there's some hidden traps and holes you can fall down, so I've got to keep everyone grounded.

"This new way we're playing, we're loving it, we really are. I want to make sure that we all know what we're achieving, but steadily.

"Don't ever think we're better than we are, because this game will bite you on the backside, very quickly."

Dan Wareing
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has praised the form of defender Logan Dobbs, describing him as a "surprise package".

Dobbs, 19, has started all but one league match so far this season and scored his first senior goal for the Gills on Saturday when he headed home the first in a 2-0 win against Tranmere.

Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent: "Logan Dobbs has been a surprise package for me this year.

"With the loss of Liam [Gordon, to injury] in the first game and Sam Gale's move to Barnsley, all of a sudden the door opened and Logan's been sensational.

"And I think he will understand when I say I didn't know he was capable of - he's done really well to become one of the consistent members of the squad here."

He added: "Songs were sung from the stands saying [Dobbs] is one of our own, so when he got his first goal in front of the fans then that's what dreams are made of."

Gillingham, 11th in League Two, host second-placed Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth says he wants his players to follow the example of tireless midfielder Robbie McKenzie.

The 27-year-old former Hull player remains a key cog in the centre of the park for the Gills, and is closing in on 250 appearances for the club.

"We've had chats, me and Robbie, and I'm loving seeing the way he's playing at the moment," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent.

"He's coming off because he's got nothing left. That's what I want all my players to do, empty the tanks.

"That's my sort of team. We've got to be fit in this league, but organised and also defensively solid."

After beating Tranmere on Saturday, Ainsworth's Gills are on a five-match unbeaten run in League Two, their best run since December 2025. They host Bristol Rovers next, on Saturday.