Gillingham’s George Lapslie happy with first impressions of new head coach Stephen Clemence

It’s ‘family first’ for Gills’ new head coach and one player who appreciated it was George Lapslie - given time off last week after the birth of his second child.

A return visit to hospital with his newborn on Friday meant making the FA Cup game at Hereford was going to be tricky but Lapslie was given the freedom to return when ready. He was back in training on Monday and played in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy match.

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“He is a great guy,” said Lapslie of his new boss. “I had my second little girl on Tuesday, the gaffer came in on the Thursday and he put my family ahead of getting the training I probably needed.

“The plan was for me to drive on Friday night and meet the lads at the hotel (ahead of the Hereford game) but then my daughter - she is fine now - got sent back to hospital and the gaffer heard that. I said to him, ‘let’s see how this goes and maybe come down Saturday’ but he was like, ‘your head needs to be in it’ and so he understood me in that sense.

“When the gaffer came in, his first conversation was that ‘your family comes first, look after them’. I really appreciated that and I hope I can pay him back.

“I have just had the best week, obviously sleepless nights, anyone with kids will know that, but it has been unbelievable.”

While Lapslie appreciated the consideration from his new boss, he was also buzzing at the way the head coach is encouraging the team to play.

He said: “There is nothing more refreshing than before a game the gaffer saying that the only way he would get annoyed with us is if we don’t try and play.

“If he is giving us those kind of messages so early on, we are only going to go one way.

“The gaffer is spot on in terms of getting the ball on the ground and if