Gills boss Adrian Pennock has been reflecting on his first Transfer Deadline Day as a manager of a League club whilst looking ahead to a trip to Yorkshire looking to end one of League One’s remaining unbeaten home records when he spoke to KSN this week.

“Deadline Day was manic,” Pennock admitted, “but in the end I’m pleased with the business we did with the two Bournemouth boys on loan.”

“They’re not ready yet – and Bournemouth will dictate when they are – but the two boys are both known to us and I’m very pleased to get them in board.”

“We don’t pay their wages until they start playing for us which is a good deal for the football club. We had things lined up if anyone left, but they didn’t which is also very pleasing.”

“We’ve signed Josh Parker as a free agent too – he played as a full back at QPR before he played up front for Red Star Belgrade and gives us more options once his international clearance comes through.”

“And so overall really pleased to get some new faces in to freshen up the squad as we look forward to Saturday.”

“I’m not a fan of Deadline Day but it’s exciting and very busy, and it’s great, it really is. We had to prepare options if anyone came in for one of our players, but I’m delighted that no-one did, as I think we’ve got a good squad here of good honest lads that we now have to build on.”

“The budget had been spent before I got here – I knew that – so I’m pleased with the business that the Chairman was able to do for us.”

Looking to the weekend, and his team options, Pennock revealed, “Chris Herd trained this week, but we’re still keeping a close eye on him, but apart from that,” said the Gills boss reaching forward, “touch wood they all seem to be OK!”

A trip to Valley Parade is traditionally a tough one for the Gills – a point that Pennock reiterated.

“Bradford are a very good team and unbeaten at home too!” he said. “Stuart (McCall) is doing a great job there and the fans are very passionate – it’ll be very loud and another good game to look forward to.”

“We’re really looking forward to it and been working hard this week on shape and set pieces and we’re relishing going there.”

“They will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season I’m sure! But there’s a growing confidence about the place – both on and off the pitch – that’s improved since Sheffield and after Shrewsbury, so we’ll go there full of confidence and asking the players to give it their all.”

“We know that we need wins as it’s a results business and hopefully we’ll get our first one on Saturday – it’s not too far away!”

“I don’t ever remember facing Stuart before – I know that as a player he was too good for me!” the Gills boss said smiling.

“Joking aside, one thing that we will be instilling into the players – just as we did at Sheffield – was that they must play the game and not the occasion and the crowd.”

“We’ve gone from five or six thousand at Oldham to 20,000 at Sheffield and possibly another 16,000 this weekend.  We’ll be exactly the same and we’ll be looking to make the ground as quiet as we can which, will mean that we’re doing all right.  We’re going there to win, make no mistake!”