Martin Allen's backroom team enjoy the moment at the final whistle on Saturday. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Martin Allen saluted his backroom staff on Saturday, insisting that without them, promotion wouldn’t have been achieved.

Allen sat alongside assistant manager John Schofield and goalkeeper coach Carl Muggleton during the post-match press conference shortly after watching the Gills clinch promotion to League 1.

He said: “Without these two, it wouldn’t have happened. They have been fantastic helping, supporting and looking after me.

“Carlo does a fantastic job with the goalkeepers but not only that, he is a kind of an assistant manager, in helping with all the other things we put into place.

“Schoey looks after all the players to make sure they are happy and all know where we are training. The training and preparation has been fantastic.

“He looks after me to make sure everything is organised and people are in the right place at the right time. It’s been a team effort on and off the field.”

Schofield added: “It’s a surreal feeling. At the start of the season we turned up at 5.30am at the hotel and it’s been full on since then.

“I don’t know how many days it’s going to take to sink in. It has been full-on but the rewards are promotion.”

And Muggleton is hoping the Gills finish the season in style.

He said: “Everyone works so hard and this is the reward you can get. The best reward you can have is promotion and if we can go on and win the championship, then great stuff.”