With many in professional football calling for a least a “circuit break”, Gillingham assistant manager Paul Raynor has been giving his thoughts on the subject to KSN…

Whilst the announcement of a new national Lockdown confirmed that “elite” football could continue, many within in game were surprised at the decision, and it would appear that that included the Gills number two.

“We really are quite surprised,” Raynor said. “The virus is absolutely rife at the moment and there’s too many infections around. I know that they say that football keeping going keeps the spirits up with people needing something to watch… and I get that, but it is a really worrying time as we’ve all got families and elderly relatives – it is a worrying time!” he admitted.

Following the news this week that all the Gillingham first team squad have passed their first COVID19 group testing since October, Raynor paid tribute to the club’s medical team who have kept the problems that many League One clubs have experienced from the doors of Priestfield.

He said, “We all have to give credit to the protocols that the club has in place. James Russell, our fitness guy, has been in charge making sure everybody has been safe – all the protocols, all the temperature checks, all the hygiene checks around the place; he’s been brilliant in terms of liaising with the Football League and what the guidelines are, and we’ve stuck to that to the letter.”

“I know that we’ve had one or two issues along the way but in terms of other clubs, we’ve been very, very lucky! But that also shows that we’ve done everything correctly which is probably why we haven’t had those issues.”

“I’d like to think that the other clubs are doing the same as we are; I’d never like to say that clubs are at fault and doing it correctly as I’m sure that they’re all trying to do it as best as they can. But it is difficult – we just want to carry on playing, but we’re also wary of the consequences of playing and we are concerned about the risks that everyone is taking.”

“I wouldn’t like to criticise what other clubs are doing as I’m assuming; they’re all doing what we’re doing or as near as they can.”

As the transfer window is upon us, the search for reinforcements for the beleaguered Gills squad is well under way, with of course Tier Four restrictions to possibly add to the difficulties of attracting player to the club, not that the management team will let that stop them as the Gills Assistant Boss explained. “I don’t think that the pandemic affects the way that the players look at moves,” he told us.

“They’re all realistic – players are still looking to further their careers and they all want to play football. It shouldn’t affect things – it shouldn’t do and let’s hope that it doesn’t. Everyone we have spoken to – prospective players we’ve spoken to – have been keen and all realise what the situation is, and we’ll just have to get on with it…”

“2020 was a very difficult year for all of us. We thought it would be a brief respite for a few weeks or couple of months, but it dragged on, and on, and on. It’s been never ending – I keep hearing that there’s light ahead at the end of the tunnel, but it seems that every time there is some light, we get another kick in the teeth.”

“It is difficult,” Raynor admitted, “but we’re strong characters – we’ve got a strong group; we’ve got some good leaders around the group, some of the experienced ones, and they’ve been very good all-round the place!”

“It’s been frustrating that we’ve been so inconsistent, but I think that comes from having such a young group as well – they’ve been inconsistent, the younger players, meaning we’ve been inconsistent as a team. One week, we’re four or five points off the Play Offs, and then you’re looking next and you’re five or six points off the relegation places – it’s been like that all season.”

“If we can string a couple of good results together, we’ll be back looking at the Play Offs again. But we’ve got to be mindful that we have to put that good run together quickly and make sure that we don’t get dragged into the lower reaches of the table – I’m pretty confident that that won’t be the case!”