Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson has told KSN he has come to Gillingham to be first choice and doesn’t want to sit on the bench.

The 30 year old former Brentford and Leyton Orient keeper was signed on a free transfer on Friday after being released by Notts County at the end of last season.

Now a Gillingham player and having made his debut for the club in the 1-0 win at Dartford on Saturday, Nelson is keen to be the club’s first choice keeper, but admits it isn’t his decision:

“That’s down to the manager,” he said. “I will do the best for this team every time I step on the pitch.”

“I believe in my own ability and I didn’t’ come here to sit on the bench. I came him to play football and get games. It’s down to the manager who he picks, but I will give him my best in training, I’ll work hard off the pitch, on the pitch and every time I’m in a Gillingham shirt you will see me give my best.”

Nelson’s release from Notts County came as a surprise to many in the game after two excellent seasons for the club and he told KSN how he was lured to Gillingham because of some familiar faces:

“There was other interest from other clubs, but this was my first choice, once I knew the interest was here, obviously working with the gaffer again and knowing Carl Muggleton, the goalie coach is here, when I was at Notts with him he was excellent and one of the best goalie coaches I’ve ever worked with.”

“It’s a good club, I’ve worked with the manager before, I know him and having a goalie coach is a big thing as you’re working closely every day.”

“We’ve got three pro keepers in this season now and two young lads, so I think it’s excellent he’s here and I’ve come to a good club.”

“I had a few offers, but none of them were right and I had to turn them down. It was a tough time as you question whether you shoudld turn them down. I had three offers before this one, throughout the summer, one in May and a couple in June, but they weren’t right, but once I heard the interest it was a no brainer.”

“My wife is from Essex, so the location is great, I’ve played at Gillingham before when I was with Brentford, so I know the club’s been higher, the ground’s set up for it along with the fanbase, so I knew it was going to progress me as a keeper.”

“I don’t want to progress as a keeper to go on, it’s to be a better keeper with Gillingham. I want to help the club get back into the league above.”

Since coming down to the club last week to play in the behind closed doors game against Dagenham & Redbridge, Nelson says he has been made to feel part of the squad and that’s helped him settle in:

“I think the lads have been brilliant since I came in on Wednesday and played the game against Dagenham and trained with them on Friday, and I feel like they’ve welcomed me with open arms, the banter in the dressing room is great, and it all bodes well for a positive season.”

“All these things make me realise I made the right decision coming to Gillingham and that I waited all summer. It was a touchy time as you’re running out of money and your contract has finished, you know you’re not going to get paid after July, but in the end all good things come to those that wait.”

“Ultimately, if I had taken any of those other offers, I wasn’t happy with the deals and the standard of where I thought that club would go, but this club has got everything, the positive vibe, the manager, the goalkeeper coach, the lads in the dressing room and the set up of the club.”

“It’s got everything and that was something I wanted to be part of.”

Since his release by Notts County, Nelson has stayed in regular contact with Gills boss Martin Allen and he was pleased that they will get to work together once again:

“I’ve chatted to him throughout the summer and have always kept in touch with him. He never said anything whilst the lad Paulo was still at the club, but he said if I wanted to come in and train with the club I could.”

“I didn’t want to go on trial anywhere because of the season I had last year. I’ve played ninety games in two years, so I can’t be bad!”

“It just so happened it all worked out and in the end it only took a day to sort out.”

For those of us on the outside looking in, Allen lives up to his “Mad Dog” reputation, but knowing the manager as well as he does, Nelson is happy with the gaffer’s way of doing things:

“It’s effective. He’s a manager of men that gets the best out of his players. The teams I’ve been in that have worked with him have been pretty good.”

“At Brentford we finished in the play-offs twice, we had two good cup runs. His record speaks for itself, maybe he is eccentric, but he gets the best out of the boys and I’m sure the fans will see that happen throughout the season.”

Fans at the game against Dartford at Princes Park on Saturday will have had to look twice when looking at the Gillingham bench when they saw Martin Allen had brought his dog Monty with him.

Sitting patiently amongst the substitutes, the black labrador was there by the manager’s side throughout the game and for Nelson, he is more than happy if the dog comes to games as long as Gillingham are winning:

“That’s his mate! He is a good dog and he had him when he was at Brentford. He’s someone different to talk to!”

“Martin has his ways, they work and they’re effective. I trust what he does and if bringing the dog works, then bring the dog! I want to win football matches and I don’t care whether he brings the dog.”

Nelson will be competing with Tommy Forecast (brought in on a season long loan from Southampton) and Ross Flitney (currently injured) for the number one jersey at Gillingham.

Meanwhile, Daren Hawkes is likely to be sent out on a season long loan to gain more experience.

On Saturday’s showing, Nelson has already gone a long way to nailing down that spot in the side.