Gillingham: What Has Gone So Wrong?

All Gillingham fans, and some general EFL fans, will remember when Gillingham went 21 games unbeaten.

It was a historic day for the club after their 1-3 away win over Newport County at Rodney Parade meant they secured a club record unbeaten run.

But now, as they today face newly-appointed Colin-Kazim Richards’ Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium, having won only five more games since then, the run seems so long ago. So, what has really gone wrong?

The First, Obvious Reason

Gillingham’s lack of threat in front of goal has cost them this season and in past seasons.

Since Brad and Shannon Galinson came in in December 2022, Gills have scored just 161 goals in 156 games.

Since January 1st, Gillingham have scored just 13 goals in 15 games, less than a goal a game.

Both of Gillingham’s strikers Josh Andrews and Sam Vokes have just five league goals between them (Andrews with three, Vokes with two) and Ronan Hale, who was signed in the January transfer window from Scottish Championship side Ross County, has already matched Andrews in goals.

One-eleventh of Gillingham’s goals came in their 4-1 win over Chesterfield at Priestfield on August 19, and since that night, the most they have scored in a game is three on three occasions.

Two of these occasions came against Newport County.

The first one secured the unbeaten run and the other one was in a 3-2 comeback win in the reverse fixture against Newport on January 17th, in which two goals were scored after the 90th minute to win it for Gills.

Who’s To Blame?

Some Gillingham fans blame manager Gareth Ainsworth, but one player doesn’t, instead blaming his teammates.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent after Gillingham’s 2-1 home loss to Bristol Rovers last week, Bradley Dack said: “The manager’s got nothing to do with the second goal – that’s us as a team, a collective.

“We had this last season, almost a carbon copy and it shows we haven’t grown.

“He always said it was a two-year plan and I know he’d have liked to be more successful this season, but I think he needs time.

“The club’s had a track record of going through managers and I think at this point everyone knows it’s probably the playing squad that needs changing.

“Everyone should be playing for next year – that’s what I’m doing. I’m not guaranteed to get another contract here next season, so I’m playing for my livelihood.”

“I’ve been in a team at this club that’s been successful, so I know what it takes and we don’t have it right now.

“The fans have every right to be angry, but we need them because that’s the only way I can see us getting out of this and trying to play for a bit of pride.”

Financial Issues

Since buying the club in 2022, Brad and Shannon Galinson have spent mega money on the club, to turn it around when it was within touching distance of non-league.

In their first transfer window, they bought in Tom Nichols and Glenn Morris from Crawley Town, George Lapslie and Oli Hawkins from Mansfield Town, Timothee Dieng from Exeter City, Ethan Coleman from Leyton Orient and Jayden Clarke from non-league Dulwich Hamlet.

And in recent transfer windows, Bradley Dack was signed taking up a huge chunk of the wage bill whilst Sam Vokes, Garath McCleary, and new signings Ronan Hale and Omar Beckles arguably very costly.

Therefore, it can be said to be no surprise when last month, figures were published each league club’s average loss revealing that Gillingham had lost the most in League Two with £6 million.

It means Gillingham’s recruitment can’t be too expensive for the sustainability of the club, and Brad Galinson will be hoping to balance the books come the summer, even if that means many players will have to go.

Everyone knows that Gillingham’s current path cannot continue, however it remains to be seen whether Brad Galinson, Gareth Ainsworth and the summer recruitments can turn the club around.