He has faced several new managers in pre-seasons during his career, and for Gillingham player of the year Barry Fuller, new boss Steve Evans is no different.

 

Speaking to KSN after the win at Folkestone, Fuller reflected on his relative surprise success from last season.  He admitted, “I knew that I was fit enough and good enough to get into the team – I knew it would be tough to do it and when I did, I made sure I took it with both hands!”

“It’s always nice when a new gaffer comes in and says nice things about a senior player and so hopefully he looks at me as one to get around the boys when needs be to get them going as a lot of the young boys have probably never came across anyone like him (Evans) before and so it might be a new thing for them but I’m positive it will be a good learning curve for them and that they will improve quickly under the Gaffer.”

Pre-season is traditionally tough, but Fuller told us, “I’m really enjoying it – that’s the whole point of it at my age now to enjoy it and its all positive.  Let’s face it if I wasn’t, I’d probably be looking at the end of my career, but I’m not even thinking about that as it’s been really enjoyable.”

“The new gaffer is demanding which is what a young group needs – to keep us on our toes which is the sort of leader we need to hopefully lead us into a positive season,”

“The Gaffer said before the game (on Saturday) that those who only came on for the last half hour on Saturday should get an hour in the next game on Tuesday and another tough preseason game as we’re all looking to get minutes under our belts.  All the hard work is towards the games and the game are used for fitness and to put in the Gaffers head who plays where – it’s tough when you’re working hard on the training ground but playing is definitely the enjoyable bit!”

“A lot of the new players have really impressed me.  I like the look of Matty Willock who I think is a really good player – he’s strong he’s positive and he drives people up the pitch – all the boys who have come in have settled right in which means that there is a lot of competition for places.”

“We’re all itching to play now – three weeks to go, so its coming round quickly now.  Everyone wants to be in that starting eleven at Doncaster for the first game.  We’re all positive for the season and we look like we can kick on and hopefully we can do that and bring success to the Football Club and hopefully our home form will be a lot better and give our fans something to cheer about.”