Edinburgh: Let me put things right
Gillingham
Under-fire Gills boss Justin Edinburgh believes stability will breed success in the long term, writes Luke Cawdell.
With no wins from their last seven league games, including last Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Fleetwood, Gillingham have dropped to 19th in the table.
It’s a run of results that have led to some fans calling for the manager to go but Edinburgh feels that results will improve over time.
He said: “You have to try and let people work through situations and it doesn’t matter what profession you are in.
“You are not going to always get the results you want. Whatever line of business you are in, you won’t always be at the top and produce the targets that are being asked. That is the situation for myself and the players at the moment.
“Why does change solve things? Why can’t people be given a chance to put things right? This time last year there was nothing wrong.”
The Gills were battling at the top of League 1 last season but find themselves at the wrong end this term with a third of the season gone.
Succeed or fail, Edinburgh insists he won’t be swayed by the opinions of outsiders as he attempts to change fortunes at Priestfield. He said: “The game is full of opinions. Do I listen to them? No. It makes no relevance on me whatsoever.
“People might think I am arrogant, or whatever, but it’s not going to affect me. I am not going to be swayed by anyone.
“I want to produce performances and results for the fans, the football club, for myself and I want that for the players but I won’t be affected by anyone’s thoughts or anything. It’s irrelevant right now.
“All I am concentrating on now is continuing to get these players to perform and to get those performances to turn into results that see us move forward.”
Ahead of their first round FA Cup match at home to Brackley Town tomorrow (Saturday), Edinburgh added: “You are not always going to produce consistency in those results.
“Performances are there and that to me shows it is only a matter of time before we get the results.
“People need opportunities to put things right. Not in every industry will someone get sacked if they don’t reach their target but in football, we know it’s a results business.
“I am fully aware you can’t go on forever and not pick up results or put things right.
“The teams that have consistency and the strength to stick with people, with that continuity, more often than not end up coming out of the other side.”
Gills travel to West Brom on Tuesday night in the Checkatrade Trophy.