Gilllingham's Steve Lovell not impressed after fellow bosses Stuart McCall and Chris Powell join the list of March's managerial sackings

By: Craig Tucker ctucker@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 07:43, 27 March 2019

Updated: 07:52, 27 March 2019

Gills boss Steve Lovell has criticised the late-season sackings in League 1.

Keith Hill was fired by Rochdale at the start of March and two more managers have gone this week with Stuart McCall axed by Scunthorpe and Chris Powell leaving Southend.

It doesn’t sit well with Lovell, who said: “It’s a difficult one because all these clubs are in positions where they’re afraid to go down.

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell Picture: Ady Kerry

“They’ve stuck with these managers throughout the season and they’ve had good runs in parts, so I can’t understand why clubs make changes so late in the season.

“They are all good men, good managers who would have a way of turning it around but each club has got a different agenda and a different way of thinking about things and you can’t control it, so whatever they decide is down to them.

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“But it doesn’t make these managers bad overnight because they lose a few games, that’s the nature of the game. It’s a results game but it’s performances as well.

“You could lose games but if it looks like there’s shape to your team, there’s a way of playing and it looks like there’s potential then it’s different to having a team go out and look as if they’re not in any shape.

“It all depends what people think. It’s all about opinions and how the chairman and directors see it. That’s down to them.”

Lovell has had his critics this season but doesn’t let the pressure of the job get to him.

He said: “I never feel under pressure myself. Saturday is a pressurised situation and you lose yourself in a game but the work is done in the week on the training ground so I’m quite happy going into games with players knowing their responsibilities and roles.

“It never leaves you when you go home after a defeat.

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“It’s always on my mind but you’ve got to be strong, haven’t you? There’s other parts to your life.

“I’ve got a big family and grandchildren and they deserve to have time with me so I’ve got to try and somehow deflect from the football.

“My wife’s been with me for 38 years and she knows the way I am after a game. It’s not the best if you’ve had a defeat but there’s no point worrying about it.

“The positive from that is you’ve got to work on things to make it better the following week and that’s the way I look at it.”