Gillingham interim manager Peter Taylor has admitted that he doesn’t believe he’ll be back in the Priestfield hot-seat for too much longer, but… 
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s game he told us, “At the moment I haven’t looked at the job full-time, but the Chairman asked me if I’d do it short-term and of course I will. I think I would be wrong as being Director of Football here not to do it because then I’m helping the Chairman out in a situation that he didn’t want to change. He wanted Ady to stay here and be a success, but unfortunately after the Rochdale game he felt that a change was needed and that’s why it was done quickly at the start of the week.”
“I wanted Ady to have his own way,” he continued, “All I wanted, to be fair, was to say what I would be doing, but he didn’t have to do it – that wasn’t a problem! I wasn’t the boss and all I’ve ever done be it assistant manager at New Zealand or Director of Football here is to give my opinion of what I think is good in the team, and bad in the team and offer some little points that I would do to maybe get better performances and whatever.
“It’s always been up to people whether they take it on board. I think that the Chairman needs to get the right person for the job, whether that’s a young one or an experienced one who’s been there and done it. I think whoever becomes available I think he needs to make that right choice and I’m sure he will.”
“It’s been a very frustrating time for Ady as I’ve seen how hard he’s been working since the start of pre-season. He went through videos of the team of individuals and so on and put in a lot of time trying to get the right recruitment. Now some will say at this moment the recruitment hasn’t been good given the position that we’re in, but there is a very thin line of winning a match to losing a match to drawing a match! If you’re not winning that confidence is down – I do think we’ve signed some decent players this year but I don’t think anyone has seen what they’re capable of – yet!
“I’m hoping that if we can everyone fit and free to play that we’ll be able to put out the best team to get us a couple of results and then people will be happier and more confident to go forward. People take it seriously and I think at times, because results haven’t been as good as we would have liked, people are not as confident or relaxed as they should be.”
Taylor was then asked about Ady Pennock’s full time successor and how long he’d be back in the hot-seat. “Over the years it’s been shown that there are supporters who respect experienced managers whilst some supporters would want a younger manager to come in,” he admitted. He then made a promise to the Gills faithful; “One thing that I would say to all supporters is that I’m still healthy enough and hungry enough to produce a team to win a match and whether that is for one match, two matches or short term or whatever. I’m still working exceptionally hard with the knowledge that I know that I’ve got to try and help us get out of this little pickle. So, if the supporters – and I know that they do – care as much about the football club as we all do, then I’d just like them to be patient and get behind the team and help the team…”
The Gills faithful this weekend face a trip to Ewood Park and Taylor was full of admiration for those making the trip – as well as the backing that his side had received during Tuesday’s goal-less draw with Scunthorpe United. “I’m always amazed at the dedication of supporters who travel up and down the country and I think it is real football and I love it and respect them,” Taylor said.
“The players mentioned in the changing room after the game on Tuesday how much they appreciated the good support our fans gave them – yes there were one or two who didn’t like some things, but the crowd who were here the other night gave us fantastic support and I think they saw players giving their all and the appreciated what they saw, as if I were a supporter that’s what I would expect at least!”
We finished by asking how his new colleagues at SKY Sports have reacted to him being back in management. Smiling, Taylor said, “I think that they realise that I am a football man and when the phone rings and someone asks for help I normally say yes and I worry about it afterwards – that’s probably why I’ve had so many jobs I suppose! It’s much easier doing work for SKY I can assure you… Who knows how long it will be for as it’s what happens in football – I love coaching and being on the training field and I’ve made no secret of that when I haven’t been out there so who knows? At the moment I’m just looking to the short-term and hopefully getting a good result to celebrate on the coach home from Blackburn on Saturday.