Manager Gareth Ainsworth’s first match at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium is against Colchester United

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is looking forward to his first game in charge at Priestfield tonight.

Ainsworth took over last week ahead of the game at Harrogate Town, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and the Gills return to Priestfield tonight (Tuesday) to take on play-off hopefuls Colchester United.

The new boss knows the importance of the fans and hopes he can give them something to enjoy.

He said: “I want to see that Rainham End going mental and trying to suck that ball in the goal.

“I know what it was like against them. We need them.

“People say the 12th man, it's 12th, 13th and 14th man sometimes. That Rainham end when it gets going can be awesome.

“We used to turn Gillingham around (at the kick off) when we played there so they weren't kicking that way in the second half, because it is one of those ends that you're thinking, ‘Right, they're kicking to their home fans, it can be tough that’.

“I'm hoping the fans get on board with what I'm trying to do. It won't go smoothly all the time but I always say that when you get behind us in the worst times, then the good times are so much better, because you were there when it was tough, and when we slightly lost our way, but we're trying to put it right, and that's my message to the fans.

“I believe that the club has been through some real tough times, some real testing times over the last two or three years.

“It does take time, so the time again (on a two-year plan) was definitely an attractive option (to the job) because you can't come in and change it around in six months. There's no chance.

“You do need time in this game and it's not often given, but to have that message from the owners, the job is very attractive for us.”

Ainsworth admitted he could feel a bit of