Gillingham checking potential new players more thoroughly than in the past, says chairman Paul Scally
by Luke Cawdell
A bigger investment in the club’s management is paying off
when it comes to sourcing new players, according to Gillingham
chairman Paul Scally.
Mr Scally (pictured) is currently working on deals to bring new
players to Priestfield when the transfer window opens in January,
but he is keen to make sure they are right, as players and
people.
He said: "We are constantly looking to improve the squad,
to freshen it up and to make changes which are appropriate.
"It’s an ongoing process and when we do decide what changes we
want to make and what players we are looking to bring in there is
plenty of management there that can give me lots of input and the
reasons why.
"We are looking closely at the kind of players we are bringing
in now and checking them out thoroughly. It is something we haven’t
necessarily always done with different managers over the past five
or 10 years.
"We need to make sure they are the right players, the right
characters and what exactly they will do for us. I can spend more
time looking at players and hoping we spend our money wisely."
This season Gillingham have the added luxury of an assistant
manager (John Schofield), a goalkeeping coach (Carl Muggleton) and
– in former boss Andy Hessenthaler – a director of football. All
three add vast knowledge to the table and Mr Scally has been
working on deals since Boxing Day.
They have been linked with moves for Crystal Palace’s David
Wright and MK Dons defender Tom Flanagan – players who have already
spent time on loan at Priestfield earlier this season.
30/12/12
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