Macdonald asked to help out with the Gills
FORMER Burton Albion winger Alex Macdonald will be helping with the management of Gillingham when the Brewers travel to the Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Macdonald has been asked to assist caretaker manager Steve Lovell following the sacking of boss Steve Evans at the weekend, following a 4-0 home thrashing by Ipswich Town.
In a statement, the club said: “Chairman Paul Scally met with senior members of staff and a number senior players at the stadium before addressing the entire squad.
“It was unanimously agreed that the chairman should try to bring in someone to help on a short-term basis to run the game on Saturday and everyone was happy for Steve Lovell to come in and offer his support.
“He met the team at the training ground and he will assist as much as he can while a permanent replacement is found.
“Steve will be assisted by Alex
Macdonald.”
Lovell played more than 200 games for Gillingham and a previous spell as manager ended after 18 months in 2019. He has also acted as caretaker previously.
In an interview with UTV, Scally outlined why Evans’ time as manager ended.
“It’s been a very unhappy camp for some weeks and I’ve been concerned and I was very disappointed on Saturday, of course,” he said.
“I don’t think the players were happy or that they came out prepared. I apologise to the supporters, as I did to all those I met after the game, because that wasn’t a Gillingham performance.
“We are where we are because we haven’t won enough games or picked up enough points. The atmosphere has not been good and it’s been a massive worry.
“I knew on Saturday night that it was all over and I had to change it. We parted amicably and today’s another day.”
With regard to Lovell, he added: “I’ve told him there are no promises on anything, it’s just a short-term fix. He loves the club. He knows the club and the people and players here.
“The players really like him already and it’s important that we have got things settled very quickly.”
Macdonald, 31, was with Burton, initially on loan, from January 2013 to February 2015, making 83 appearances and scoring seven goals.
He then had spells with Oxford United and Mansfield Town before joining Gillingham in August 2020.