Former Port Vale star Gareth Ainsworth takes Gillingham into a crunch League 2 match this Saturday
Manager Gareth Ainsworth is relishing a return to his old club this Saturday as Gillingham look to crash Port Vale’s title hopes.
The Gills manager loved his time playing at Port Vale - a club that signed him for £500,000 and sold him for £2m - but on Saturday, his team will be hoping to scupper their League 2 championship aspirations.
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Vale are a point behind leaders Doncaster Rovers with one game left to play this weekend and there’s a capacity-crowd heading to the match for a thrilling end to the League 2 season.
Ainsworth said: “It’s the last game of the season, crunch time for a lot of teams, and we are in one of those games against Port Vale, a fantastic football club, a real big piece of my career and a place in my heart but I'll be wanting to burst the bubble.
“They’ll know that, and they loved me because I was passionate, I gave everything. I'm going to give everything for my team, and hopefully we can give a surprise to the league because people will say Port Vale will probably get the title now they've got Gillingham, and hopefully they don't beat us.
“Before the start of the game, I might be able to just go on and say, ‘well done’ to the fans and the team, because they have done fantastically well to get out of this league. At the end of the game, I'm hoping I need a police escort out, because we want to take the points.
“We'll give everything but I know (Vale boss) Darren Moore, who's a fantastic manager, by the way, and an even better human being, he'll be giving everything for his team to get that championship.
“I was glad they got promoted (last week). I didn't want to go there and do anything to damage their promotion hopes. Darren Moore is