Scally Makes Rallying Cry

Gills chairman Paul Scally appears to have given his backing to under-fire manager Mark Stimson by insisting everyone at the club 'has a role to play'.

The Gills made it nine games without a win and dropped into the relegation zone after a dismal 1-0 defeat to Tranmere at Priestfield on Tuesday.

Stimson again was the victim of negative chants from the Gills fans, with many believing the manager should be relieved of his duties.

But Scally told KentOnline: 'We must stick together. Everybody has a role to play - the manager, players and fans.

'Mark Stimson is not a bad manager and will improve in time.

'The players are individually good but not gelling and the fans are understably nervous. It is a very concerning time.

'The mood inside Priestfield has not been good for the last three home games. It has been very quiet. The terraces have a big part to play.

'The fans are frustrated but so is everybody - the manager, players and nobody more so than me.

'The fans were unbelievable at Brentford last weekend. We have to do that for 90 minutes at Priestfield.'

Stimson himself has admitted he is under pressure, but the Gills boss is desperate to keep his job and get the team out of the relegation places.

He told the club's official website: 'This is a fantastic football club with great support but at the moment we're at the wrong end of the table.

'I've had a good discussion with the Chairman and it was an honest one between two honest people. We're both unhappy with the position we are in and we were both unhappy with the performance the other night.

'He listens to the commentary on the Radio and I think that Radio Kent commentary is an honest opinion.

'Like me, he is very disappointed and frustrated by the performance because we didn't see it coming. He's just said to do what you do, get your head down and give it your best.

'We gave the players a day off yesterday and then this morning we had a brief chat before the training session just to iron out a few things.

'One thing we had to do was show them where we are in the league because there is no way of getting away from the fact that we are in the bottom four and we want to be out of it as quickly as possible. We're in it together and we've got to get out of it.

'We've certainly got the ability to get out of it but have we got the know how to get out if it? That will be the most important thing over the next few weeks.'

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