In the build up to the opening of Gillingham’s new League Two campaign, one of Neil Harris’ new signings has been talking to KSN about the big kick off at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Midfielder Shaun Williams, who left Portsmouth during the summer, is expected to make his Gills debut at Plough Lane and the Irishman has been telling us about the nine months ahead – “we’ve worked very hard in pre-season and we’re finally glad that we’re now working for a good reason and luckily enough it’s this Saturday!” he told us.

“We’ve a good bunch and I’ve settled in really well; We’ve formed different relationships within the group. I know the manager very well from my previous clubs and is probably one of the main reasons that I’ve come to Priestfield.”

“I wanted to be a part of what he’s building here at Gillingham – hes someone who I know and someone I want to work with!”

“It’ll be nice to have a successful season, but we’ll take it game by game – don’t want to put any pressure on anyone, but we know that within the group what we want to achieve and hopefully that can come through!”

“It would be great if we got a good start, but I’d probably rather finish really strongly than start strong but if we can gel as a group as theres obviously a lot of new players in the dressing room and it will take time. But if we can start with early points of course it will be nice…”

“Everybody is stepping up to the plate and theres competition for places all over the pitch. Theres a lot of solid campaigners within the group, experienced players so hopefully we can be successful.”

“Personally, I haven’t missed a session and the rumours about me retiring are just that and the only person who can answer rumours is me – touch wood I’m injury free and it stays like that. I hope that I’ll be able to bring my experience and leadership to the side and be a calming influence within the chaos – I’d rather the team win rather than myself do well, that’s first and foremost!”

“We’ve been focused on Wimbledon all week so that we’ll have a good insight hopefully into the game plan that they’ll play and the game plan that we’ll implement in the game ourselves – it’ll be a tricky one as the first game of any season is always the same and hopefully we’ll be able to stamp our authority on the game and come back with the points.”

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC