FOOTBALL
Gillingham
Gillingham boss Ady Pennock hopes to have another defender on board in time for the trip to Oldham this weekend, writes Luke Cawdell.
Gills’ defensive record is up there with the worst in League 1 and fixing that is a priority for the new head coach.
He will be without suspended centre-back Deji Oshilaja tomorrow (Saturday) and Baily Cargill, who has returned to Bournemouth after his loan spell expired but is hopeful of having a new man in.
Pennock said: “I am in talks and hopefully we will get someone in before the weekend. There is a 50% chance of him starting on Saturday. We are talking and agents are talking, so is the chairman.”
Loan defender Josh Pask remains at West Ham recovering from a torn hamstring so Pennock’s options will be stretched if he can’t bring a new face in. Chris Herd is one option to fill the gap.
It’s been a fresh start for the whole squad under Pennock, who has been working his new players hard.
Everything is open to change – including the captaincy.
He said: “I am going to wait until Saturday when I name the team but Josh (Wright) has been fantastic. I have been leaning on him because he is club captain and he will remain so. Whether he starts or not, we will have to see.
“I have got a picture in my mind and know how I want to play but it is always open.
“It’s a fresh start for everyone and there might be some players in the squad who can’t adapt to how I want them to be. That is something I need to assess quickly.”
His first test is against a side sitting bottom of League 1.
He said: “There are no easy games in any league and they aren’t going to roll over for us to tickle their tummies. We have to be positive.”