As Gillingham began their preparations for the new season with a two-nil win at Colchester Untied, KSN has been talking to assistant boss Paul Raynor about the seven new faces in the squad preparing for the new season, and the latest on the last remaining outstanding contract offer.

Ryan Jackson was the first summer signing and returns to Priestfield for a second spell. Speaking about the full back, the Gills number two told us, “we think he’ll give some penetration for us down the right-hand side. He’s an experienced player in League One and League Two who’s got a bit of pace.”

“Barry (Fuller) had another good season last season, but we felt though we could replicate the forward thrusts of Connor (Ogilvie) on the other side on the right-hand side, it’ll give us more attacking options. Ryan obviously fitted the bill – everybody at the club spoke very highly of his attitude and his commitment, his professionalism – he’s someone we’ve kept an eye on and watched during his previous time at Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon and felt as though he’d do a good job for us.”

“So, when he became available, we made the call and having seen him in training as well, we’re delighted to have him! I don’t think that he really wanted to leave in the first place as he enjoyed his time here, but we’re delighted to have him back.”

Striker Vadaine Oliver arrives after helping Northampton Town gain promotion to League One through the League Two Play Offs. “When we lost Mikael Mandron, we felt as though as needed to have someone else with that physical presence up top who can hold the ball up and bring other people into the game and give us that power and presence up there.”

Raynor then confessed, “We didn’t think though we’d be able to get him after he had such a good season at Northampton, but the lad wanted a new challenge. He was sort after by a number of clubs in League One as well as Northampton who wanted to keep him.”

“The Gaffer is very persuasive when he gets people in his office and he convinced Vadaine that we were the club for him. And he’s another one that I’ve been very impressed with in training so far – and he’ll give us a real threat at the top of the pitch!”

“Jacob Mellis is a player who we know very, very well for many, many years,” Raynor told us. “We watched him at Barnsley and Chelsea in his younger days as we tap into watching the younger teams as you can see from the acquisitions that we’ve made last year and this year. Jacob is someone who we managed to get to Mansfield and is very, very talented.”

“He was doing very well for us and we were on a good run when we left, and he lost his way there and things didn’t work out in the end – maybe his face didn’t fit for the new manager. He went to Bolton and after the problems that they’ve endured, he’s drifted a little bit since.”

“That talent is very much there – we bought the best out of him at Mansfield by making him feel loved and appreciated and we’ll certainly give him the same at Gillingham.”

“One thing we felt that we needed this season was more creativity – we were very workmanlike last year and very hard to beat and defensively strong. But we also felt that we drew too many, and if we can turn those draws into wins this year, then we’ll be up there challenging and Jacob will certainly help us to do that – he’s very creative, technically very gifted and he’ll be a good signing for us. The fans will love him – he’s always trying to make things happen and I think we’ve signed a really good player.”

There are two loan signings too thus far – Arsenal pair central defender Zech Medley and midfielder Trey Coyle. “We asked the question to try and get these young players,” Raynor explained, “obviously with the hope that we might get these guys.”

“We’ve had many dealings with Arsenal down the years – we had Emi Martinez, who’s just starred for the Gunners in the FA Cup Final with us at Rotherham many years ago; he was brilliant for us and we treated him well helping with his education – and you keep those contacts for years and years, and the big clubs don’t forget that.”

“So, when we made the call to the powers that be, they remember those things and they obviously believe that we can nurture the two guys as we did with the two Southampton guys last season. The feedback we had from St Marys was fantastic for Alfie and Tommy last year – they couldn’t have thanked us enough!”

“Obviously word gets around that that’s what they get when they come to us and it’ll help the two boys immensely playing men’s senior football and we can’t thank Arsenal enough for allowing the guys to do it with us.”

“Zech is a cultured defender – I think he’ll need senior football just for the rigours of football that matters when points are at stake against these rugged League One strikers who will rough him up a little bit. He’s fantastic on the ball – he’s a footballing centre half but I think that Arsenal realise that they need to tough him up and put him in football matches that really matter.”

“And that will certainly be the case wherever we go – Accrington or Rochdale on cold Tuesday nights – then that will really help his education, and that will really bring him on. He and Jack (Tucker) will bounce off each other and learn a lot from each other – there’s different ways to get to the top but the nice thing is that they will both have a Gillingham shirt on this season.”

“We had Olly Lee last year – who did a fantastic job for us – and maybe when we’re looking at that position as an attacking midfielder to supplement the strikers, we perhaps thought we needed more of a goal threat.”

“Someone who was going to create and be a goal threat as well and that’s what we see in young Trey – he’s another who’s come in the last couple of days and left the guys saying “wow – this kid’s good!” And we know a lot more about him than they do! The guys don’t always know everybody but as I say, they have been a few eyebrows raised at the quality of the two guys.”

After spending what proved to be the end of last season on loan at Priestfield Jordan Graham became a target for the Gills after his release from Wolves. “Jordan will give us the width, although we know that he can play anywhere across the front.”

Raynor reminded us. He went on: “We felt as though he made a real impact when he came onto the pitch last season, and that was after not having a full pre-season. He didn’t have long with us and I think there was more to come from him when we went into Lockdown – he was just getting fit and starting to show what he can do.”

“He’s chomping at the bit to make up for lost time after spending a lot of time injured when he was at Wolves, but we remember playing against him for Rotherham and Leeds and he was always a real threat. Kenny Jackett thought very highly of him – he’s a talent.”

“We’re never going to be in the market and outgun your Ipswich’s and Portsmouth’s in the transfer market but we can do is to give these guys an opportunity and give them a platform – we’ll nurture them, we’ll love them and put our arms around them and we’ll shout at them and get the best out of them.”

“Jordan looks in good shape – all he’ll need is match fitness and there will be a lot to come from him. He looks like he’s worked hard during this break and we’re excited to see what he can do!”

The latest signing made by the Gills is former Burnley man Alex MacDonald. “He’s definitely going to give us versatility,” Raynor told us. “I think that the fans will absolutely love him – he’s all action; he’s full of energy; he’s full of life; he’s an amazing character around the place, and is another one who did very well for us at Mansfield.”

“He’s played a lot of football in League One – he’s been around and is someone who we’ve liked for a long, long time. He’s a bit in the Mark Byrne mold – small and stocky and gets about the pitch. He can play a number of positions around the pitch. So, in a small squad which is what we have, he certainly fits the bill, and we’re delighted to have him – he adds a bit of experience to the squad too and that’s going to be vital.”

“Alex is very similar in terms of the drive and the energy that he gives us, so it did become more of a priority. Alex was on the radar anyway but it did become more of a priority when Mark decided to go back to Ireland, and good luck to him as well – he felt as though it was the right thing to do and we’ve got to support him on that, and he’s settled and good luck to him.”

Raynor the finished with an “update” on the situation with Brandon Hanlan. “He’s in training with us, which is good,” said the Gills assistant boss. “He was involved at Colchester and the ball is in Brandon’s court – we’d like to have him, and we’ve made that abundantly clear over the last six months if I’m honest or probably longer if I’m honest.”

“We value him and know how much we want him to stay – we’ve made him a very good offer and we hope he accepts it. But if he doesn’t he’ll move on and we’ll look at other alternatives – we have a “plan B” and we have a “plan C” and we’re still looking to add to the squad even now as you can imagine. We’d love to have Brandon on board, and he knows that!”

Images courtesy of Gillingham Football Club