Things have got a lot different around Priestfield since the Galinson takeover and Alex MacDonald has been loving every minute.

MacDonald has set up all three goals for newcomer Tom Nichols and has benefited by the extra quality around him. But it’s not just on the pitch where thing have changed since the influx of new players at the club.

“When we go up for dinner there aren’t even enough tables and chairs,” joked the 32-year-old.

“It’s a great place to be at, a real different feeling from top to bottom and not just the footballing department. It's so nice to see because it has been so needed.

“There has to be two groups in the gym now, it was quite comfortable to put 14 professional players in there, we have a good sized gym, but 26-27 players all doing a session is tough but now it works well, the sports science team have been brilliant.”

Players also have to be sharp to get the parking spaces outside the stadium.

“There have been a few parking tickets out there this week," he added.

MacDonald's enjoying having so many players around - especially good ones.

He said: “I always try and do everything with a smile on my face but it is a very nice feeling coming in, looking around and seeing the quality in the changing room now. The changing room is full, a lot more bodies, but not just bodies for bodies sake, some real quality has come through the door.

“The first three games since the new lads have been in, along with a few deadline day additions, the quality has gone up another level. It is an enjoyable place to be, a different feeling.

“Some people will be threatened by it and some will welcome it. I think if anyone in that changing room felt hard done by with someone else coming into their position they are very wrong to do so. Every position, everything was up for grabs in the window, certainly with the new ownership.

“The (owners) talked about an aggressive transfer window, not one single person could have had a gripe about it. It was going to come and it will bring out the best in the players who were already in the building. Certainly the quality that has been added can do one thing for the football club and that is improve it.

“When you bring in quality it is going to build confidence for everyone in the team. There is confidence in the camp, results and performances show that, and long may that continue.”

The midfielder has invited his new team-mate Tom Nichols to buy him a beer in the summer after setting him up with three goals from his first three Gillingham appearances. All three have come from MacDonald’s set-pieces.

MacDonald said: “Nico is a fantastic player, his movement, his awareness, his knowledge of how to play the game is brilliant. I think he has felt confident that I am going to put the ball where he wants it and I am confident he will run where I want him to run. For the first three games it has been a hot streak for us.

“If I can do that 10 more times between now and the end of the season I think we will all be delighted and it will be great for everyone. He can thank me by buying me a beer in Ibiza in the summer!”

MacDonald previously played for Oxford United during a takeover there, which led to promotion out of League 2 and a Wembley visit in the EFL Trophy. He’s seen what can happen with investment and hopes the same for the Gills.

He said: “I joined Oxford in the January window (in 2015) and have seen what it can do to a club. Brad (Galinson) refers to (Gillingham) as a sleeping giant. I watched Oxford go from small sparse stands to filling them up, going to Wembley, getting promoted and playing a part in it. I am familiar with it.

“I enjoyed it incredibly, being part of something that wasn't going very well to playing a huge part in turning a club around and making people happy.

“This is a fantastic football club and I have seen the power the stadium can hold. From now until the end of the season if we can pack Priestfield out on a couple more occasions it is only going to benefit everyone. We now have a team on the pitch that is competing, with the quality to go and win games.”

Looking ahead to the match against Crawley tomorrow, a huge battle at the bottom of League 2, he said: “Saturday is very tough. We are both fighting for our lives. We have had a fantastic transfer window but we still have to go out and perform and get points on the board.

“We are confident, with a packed Priestfield, that Rainham End can suck the ball in, with the fans onboard, it should be a very tough place for any opposition team to come.”