I guess that means the much feted takeover at Shrewsbury isn’t happening. Huge for Gills, terrible for Shrewsbury, hopefully a better situation for Gareth and Dobbo.
Speaking selfishly, a club in disarray, hopefully that means we can give them a good stuffing next Tuesday. Although it’s a shame they won’t make their bow at AP for a ‘home coming’ welcome from the stands.
Wonder how Wheeler feels. In a relegation scrap miles away from where he's based. At least it's only until the end of the season - he'd make a good League 2 all-rounder if he goes to Gills
Quitting a League One club after a few months to go to a League Two club seems... unusual? Especially when that League Two club has minimal chance of getting into the play offs. Whether or not the takeover deal for Shrewsbury fell apart or not, this seems mercenary and bad form. Ainsworth's whole schtick is to create a band-of-brothers, in-it-together, fight-against-all-odds spirit that the players and fans buy into. Hard to do that in the future when everyone knows he'll jump ship asap when the going gets tough.
On the other hand, it is clear that both clubs will be league 2 clubs next season. An opportunity has come up which presumably won’t be there in May. If he sees it as a better opportunity for him and his family fair enough. I guess having a few games before end of season gives him a better chance to work out which players to keep and which to release over the summer. Really hope this one works out for him.
The warning signs were there when he showed the Shrewsbury players the Haka and burst out laughing at the end, saying "Who believes any of this bollocks?'
Gape was stuck in the national league, injury record putting other managers off. Ainsworth bringing him up 2 tiers is hardly leaving him hanging is it?
And I'm sure Wheeler can cope with a couple of months actually playing somewhere, rather than struggling to get near our bench?
On another note, first signing at Gills for Gaz?
Has to be Stewart doesn't it. Currently playing about 20mins down the road at Ebbsfleet. Who are absolutely cut adrift at the bottom of the National league.
Gutted he won't be back at AP (not that I will be there), but perhaps he heard through the grapevine that Dan Rice is retroactively furious with him for getting us promoted to the Championship?
I was mystified that Gillingham went for Mark Bonner when GA was available, though I think it came out Ainsworth was targeting Malaga at the time,
Ultimately, Gillingham have a bit of money and are upwardly mobile. Building out of L2 (with the ability to have a preview and preparation for the final stretch of this season) is much more ideal than taking over the worst squad in a competitive rich-meets-poor division a big chunk of the way in.
The most significant danger is that the Gills cycle through managers very quickly, so they will need to come out of the gate strong next season. But GA has every chance of managing more games for them than he did for QPR or Shrewsbury.
Was a thankless task at Shrewsbury. Had a bit of early magic, but then lost loads and loads in a row and they'd be down in a few games, so he's just about avoided that!
Squad was actually weakened in January too, and the whole thing seemed to be based on a future take over to solve all problems.
But when you take a team down, you're sort of under pressure to take them back up just to reach parity aren't you?
So picking up a doddery near bottom side, who can't go down this year, with a few games to assess them and then a whole summer to improve them seems a much better plan.
Comments
Speculation on the Shrewsbury forum that this may be down to a promised takeover not happening.
I guess that means the much feted takeover at Shrewsbury isn’t happening. Huge for Gills, terrible for Shrewsbury, hopefully a better situation for Gareth and Dobbo.
Christ.....getting my face tattoo changed is going to be a nightmare.....
What a disaster they’ve had since leaving Wycombe. Gills ownership strike me as all talk no action.
That's a shame with Shrewsbury due in town on Tuesday.
Really needs to make this one work.
Speaking selfishly, a club in disarray, hopefully that means we can give them a good stuffing next Tuesday. Although it’s a shame they won’t make their bow at AP for a ‘home coming’ welcome from the stands.
Wonder how Wheeler feels. In a relegation scrap miles away from where he's based. At least it's only until the end of the season - he'd make a good League 2 all-rounder if he goes to Gills
He left because coming back home would have broken his heart. Maybe.
I told @Shev that Gaz wouldn't take Shrewsbury down
A bit nearer home for both of them.
Got to feel sorry for Dom Gape & Wheeler who have just signed for the club to play under Gaz for them to jump ship and leave them there
It's the most logical hypothesis. Understandable.
Quitting a League One club after a few months to go to a League Two club seems... unusual? Especially when that League Two club has minimal chance of getting into the play offs. Whether or not the takeover deal for Shrewsbury fell apart or not, this seems mercenary and bad form. Ainsworth's whole schtick is to create a band-of-brothers, in-it-together, fight-against-all-odds spirit that the players and fans buy into. Hard to do that in the future when everyone knows he'll jump ship asap when the going gets tough.
STOP SAYING BAD (but probably true) THINGS ABOUT AINSWORTH
Avoids an absolutely inevitable relegation at Shrewsbury and comes closer to home.
A shame not to have a big home coming next week though.
On the other hand, it is clear that both clubs will be league 2 clubs next season. An opportunity has come up which presumably won’t be there in May. If he sees it as a better opportunity for him and his family fair enough. I guess having a few games before end of season gives him a better chance to work out which players to keep and which to release over the summer. Really hope this one works out for him.
LOL on the bbc comment section...
Comment: "Ainsworth has had more clubs than Tiger Woods"
Response: "4? No wonder Woods hasn't won a major in a while"
The warning signs were there when he showed the Shrewsbury players the Haka and burst out laughing at the end, saying "Who believes any of this bollocks?'
Feel sorry for them?
Gape was stuck in the national league, injury record putting other managers off. Ainsworth bringing him up 2 tiers is hardly leaving him hanging is it?
And I'm sure Wheeler can cope with a couple of months actually playing somewhere, rather than struggling to get near our bench?
On another note, first signing at Gills for Gaz?
Has to be Stewart doesn't it. Currently playing about 20mins down the road at Ebbsfleet. Who are absolutely cut adrift at the bottom of the National league.
4D chess there! 😂
Gutted he won't be back at AP (not that I will be there), but perhaps he heard through the grapevine that Dan Rice is retroactively furious with him for getting us promoted to the Championship?
(joke)
"All hair and no substance" is one of the more comedy comments on their forum
Was promised cash and now none available.
also the commute meant 2 nights at home a week.
Gillingham a much better location, though we’ll have to see next season if it was a better move.
I was mystified that Gillingham went for Mark Bonner when GA was available, though I think it came out Ainsworth was targeting Malaga at the time,
Ultimately, Gillingham have a bit of money and are upwardly mobile. Building out of L2 (with the ability to have a preview and preparation for the final stretch of this season) is much more ideal than taking over the worst squad in a competitive rich-meets-poor division a big chunk of the way in.
The most significant danger is that the Gills cycle through managers very quickly, so they will need to come out of the gate strong next season. But GA has every chance of managing more games for them than he did for QPR or Shrewsbury.
Definitely.
Was a thankless task at Shrewsbury. Had a bit of early magic, but then lost loads and loads in a row and they'd be down in a few games, so he's just about avoided that!
Squad was actually weakened in January too, and the whole thing seemed to be based on a future take over to solve all problems.
But when you take a team down, you're sort of under pressure to take them back up just to reach parity aren't you?
So picking up a doddery near bottom side, who can't go down this year, with a few games to assess them and then a whole summer to improve them seems a much better plan.
Reading to Gillingham would be a good 2 hr trip each way at times significantly more. Not sure that is commutable very often
Not a great trip with the M25 element either.
Will surely arrange some sort of local accommodation, as it's surely not healthy to be travelling 4 hours a day 4-5 times a week.
Disappointing for all concerned I would imagine. Except possibly the Gills.
Well, on the bright side the people who hated GA when we was here can start baiting and sneering to get a bite.
I don't think that will happen.