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Gillingham’s new boss Neil Harris is keen to build a team the fans can be proud of.
Harris has played for and against the Gills over the years and wants to bring some positive energy back to Priestfield.
Speaking to the club after agreeing a two and a half year deal, he said: “I enjoyed my time here as a player so coming back as a manager is a privilege and an honour and I am extremely proud to be here. I know I am coming in at a difficult stage for the football club but we can only go one way now and that is a positive way.”
Harris’ first game is a relegation six-pointer against Crewe tonight (Tuesday). The Gills start the evening 10 points from safety.
It’s not just about tonight, however. Harris is committed to building something at the Gills even if there are some rocky times ahead. He was successful in returning Millwall to the Championship after they dropped down to League 1.
He said: “Yes, we need results quickly, but it is about the long-term as well and that is what sold it to me as well, (chairman) Paul Scally’s longer vision, about the summer and then moving forward hopefully in League 1 next year but looking at a longer plan over the next couple of years of trying to build a squad that resembles Gillingham Football Club.
“Football fans want to see passion and success, how do you measure success? That is against expectation, clearly the football club has not delivered on the pitch this year but there are good people here.
"Paul Scally has been here a hell of a long time, invested a lot of money and sweat and the fans invest a lot of money coming to watch and all I would say is come and get behind the team and hopefully enjoy it.
“I have come to hopefully enjoy my job and instil some joy and hope into the players and the fan base. I have not promised the players we will survive this year, we have a tough challenge, but let’s enjoy it.
“Hard work costs nothing and the teams that I played for here and against at Gillingham were always tough to beat, they were always physical, aggressive, represented the fan base, a working man’s area, I am not saying this group can’t be that but it obviously hasn’t been at the level that is needed to gain results so far.
“I have told the players it is not about reinventing football or a style of play, it is about progressively trying to improve everybody on and off the pitch, we want to play front-foot aggressive football, with and without the ball, and we want to make it extremely difficult for teams.
“I want to put positivity back in the group and the fans want to come and see the players have a go, they want to see their team play and be entertained and that is my aim, over the next two and a half years onwards.”
Harris has been out of work since leaving Cardiff City a year ago.
He said: “I have had a year off, a lot of it by choice, to spend time with family and recharge the batteries.
“I want to get going again, I have so much energy to give back. The excitement is not just the joy of being back in the game, it is the longer term vision, not just about winning against Crewe, there has to be a structure identified within the football club, to help it flourish.
“There has to be homegrown players coming through, we have to look at recruiting the right players and it is a plan I took on seven years ago in a similar like at Millwall after a relegation and built something, Cardiff was similar, coming to a club by choice where I see a longer term vision and I am looking forward to it.”
