GILLINGHAM manager Mark Stimson is ready to fight his way out of the relegation scrap.

Saturday’s mauling at Northampton highlighted the challenge facing Stimson but the Gills boss insists he’s up for it.

“I’m a big fighter. Things like this do hurt me hard but I’ll come out fighting,” he said.

“I’ll stand up and be counted and I won’t shy away from anything.

“We’ve got two massive games at home now and we know it is going to be difficult if those games don’t start as we planned.”

He added: “I’m sure there’ll be many words said over the next couple of days about myself but I’m a positive person. I’m ready for a challenge which is why I came to the club.

“I knew it would be rocky but I didn’t think it would be as rocky as it has been.

“We have shifted some players out and brought some players in, who I thought would have done better, but that’s not showing to be the case.

“All we can do is pick the players who I think are physically and mentally ready to do a job for the club.

“There are still one or two players, unfortunately, who are not in the squad who can’t get their head around it.

“They find it difficult to speak to other players, but that’s part and parcel of it, and you hope that you still pick up results and stay where you want to be.

“That’s not really happening and we might have to shuffle one or two out on loan just to get the atmosphere right in the club, because that’s so important."