Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth on doing things his way, optimism with a newly built squad and not getting carried away after a positive run of results

Gareth Ainsworth believes Gillingham have turned a corner after finally getting the chance to build the team he wanted.

The Gills boss has overseen a major overhaul of his squad this summer following a disappointing campaign which ended with the club 17th in League 2.

Gillingham have now been in the division since their relegation in 2022, but there is a growing sense of optimism around Priestfield after a summer of recruitment and a five-game unbeaten run.

Three successive draws have been followed by victories over Rochdale and Tranmere, with the Gills now preparing to face Bristol Rovers at home on Saturday.

Rovers are managed by former Gillingham boss Steve Evans, but Ainsworth is focused on what he sees as a significant change in his own team.

He said: “From the day I came in this place, I said there's a lot of work to do, a hell of a lot of work to do, with contracts that were given out and historical stuff that had happened at the club.

“I think that one of the nicest things was that the [owners] and [managing director] Joe Comper and people like that were saying, ‘we understand we're going to go through some tough times here because of what's happened previously, but you're the man to sort it. We know what you can do. We know you've been through this type of stuff before’.

“For me, to be given the time and them to keep their word, because we had some really bad results last season. We went on a spell of [conceding] fours, fives and sixes in the league and you can't concede that amount of goals. That's not acceptable.

“The long vision from them, to get to this place now, I'm really excited because this is my squad now. This is my team. This is what I wanted.

“It's definitely my team to be judged on now and I've