After signing a new deal that will keep him at MEMS Priestfield until 2027, the Players’ Player of the Year Ethan Coleman has been talking to KSN ahead of the visit of Tranmere Rovers to Kent this weekend. 

Coleman returned to first team football at the weekend in the defeat to Doncaster Rovers after injury, this week committed his long-term future to the club and is naturally enough delighted to have signed the new deal and told us, “Really pleased to get the deal done, I am delighted!

“The project here is a really good one and since I first came to the Club, its completely changed; our aims, the targets for achievements, really looking forward to being a part of it!” 

“The Club is completely different to the one that I joined. We are looking for that top three position this year and as much as I do not want to say it in September, promotion is the long-term goal! In terms of what I did come into at the start, a relegation battle – it is so different!” 

“I have really enjoyed training when I have come back in, it is fast, it is forward thinking, and I really enjoy that as a player and look to do well!

“I know that I need a lot more goals in my game, that is one thing that I have set out to improve on this year and it is one thing more… get more assists and get more goals, but I am going to keep to what I have been doing though which is a more defensive approach!” 

Coleman was one of the shining lights last season for the Gills and was a worthy recipient of the “silverware” at the end of a long season.

“It was a delightful moment when I won the award at the end of last year in my career so far,” the midfielder said reflecting on being named Players’ Player of last season.

He added, “You do not really get a lot of individual accolades or trophies in football as a player at this stage of your career and I was incredibly pleased. You must earn that respect from your peers of being a good player, you want your manager to think you are a good player, you want your team-mates to think you are a good player as otherwise there is no trust on the pitch.” 

“I just want to do my best for the team and for the supporters who have been brilliant for me and its really pleasing.

“I have been doing some training with Dacky (Bradley Dack) and he has told a few stories from when he was at the club before, he’s a good guy and we are really pleased to have him here.

“Someone with his experience, his technical ability, where he has played before is massive for us as a team and we are going to need him and are delighted to have him!”