Manager Gareth Ainsworth prepares for Gillingham’s game at Harrogate Town on Saturday before a midweek home fixture with Colchester United and two away matches at Salford and Chesterfield after that

Gareth Ainsworth has had little time to settle in as Gillingham’s new manager ahead of a hectic schedule.

A whirlwind week at Gillingham saw Ainsworth installed as the club’s next manager - the third this season following John Coleman’s exit - and the new boss has only had two training sessions ahead of their match at Harrogate.

Ainsworth and assistant boss Richard Dobson took training at Gillingham’s Beechings Cross facility for the first time on Thursday and had another session on Friday morning before hitting the road ahead of Saturday’s game in Yorkshire.

The Gills are in action again on Tuesday night, as Ainsworth gets to manage at Priestfield for the first time, when in-form Colchester United head to Priestfield for an evening match.

Next Saturday, the Gills head north again for a game at Salford before another midweek trip, away at Chesterfield.

Ainsworth said: “My first two weeks are mayhem, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday and as a player you love those weeks, you're not training too much, you're just playing games.

“As a manager, you hate those weeks because of the prep you have to do, and we have come in three days before, there's so much to do.

“It's it's going to be a test but I think under the lights here (on Tuesday) will be a great occasion against Colchester who are flying high under the Cowleys. It's going to be a tough game without a shadow of a doubt.

“I’m looking forward to my first home game but all thoughts are on Harrogate at the moment and what we're going to do with that.

“We’d love a win to start with. We'll learn plenty in the game with our players. Training will show you so much but the game will show you so much more.

“We've worked on them, we've assessed their strengths and weaknesses,