More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Contract talks are ongoing with Gillingham’s all-action midfielder Alex MacDonald and he’d love to stay.
MacDonald played a key role in the team’s win over Leyton Orient on Tuesday night and has been a big part in the turnaround since the start of the year. A contract offer is testament to his role in Neil Harris’ side.
The Gills are in talks with several players at present, having already secured defender Max Ehmer on a new deal.
Speaking after Tuesday’s win, MacDonald said: “There has been a contract offered. I love the football club, I love working for the manager, but it still has to be right for me as well.
“We have been talking for a number of weeks now and we just have to wait and see. Hopefully we can get it sorted because I do really enjoy my time down here and I am desperate to work for the manager and be part of something special next year.”
MacDonald has built up a good rapport with the fans who appreciate his efforts on the pitch. It’s a two-way thing.
He said: “I like to think they see an older pro, an older player giving their all for their football club and it is something I absolutely pride myself on, making sure I leave everything out on the pitch, with good performances, hard work and desire, that can go a long way for some fanbases.
“I have built a real connection with them and I am not ready for that to stop in the next couple of weeks.”
The Gills had to watch Leyton Orient celebrate promotion on the Priestfield pitch on Tuesday night. MacDonald believes Gillingham could be doing something similar next year - and wants to be a part of it.
It would be a big call for MacDonald, who has had to balance personal life with his career, but Gillingham has been his footballing home for the past three seasons and he’s been on quite a journey.
He said: “From trying to fight for promotion out of League 1 when I first arrived to being relegated, being injured for a year, then scrapping to try and stay in league 2, it has been tough.
"I think what we have seen since January onwards is a very united football club, a group of supporters and a team that reflect them and it has been great to be part of it.
“I have really enjoyed it, when you have come back from a long-term injury, a football club that has been slowly on the downward spiral, you start to taste that success and what it could feel like if the football club got going again and it is great to be part of it.
“I have enjoyed my time here, it is a long way from home, my daughter is up north, I have got a fantastic relationship with the manager, sometimes he doesn’t play me when I think he should, sometimes he plays me when I don’t expect it, but we have a very good understanding, a very good relationship. He has asked me to trust him and I have done, I like to think I have repaid him with performances on the pitch.
“There is something about this place that I really enjoy.”
The Gills secured their Football League status with the win over Leyton Orient at Priestfield - having turned things around since the start of 2023 after the takeover and an injection of funds into the transfer kitty.
MacDonald said: “The second Brad and Shannon (Galinson, the owners) came in and we started signing experienced players for the level, I always knew we had enough in the building.
“It is alright saying you have a squad of players capable of avoiding relegation, you have to go and put in the performances. We have made our home pitch an absolute fortress, that is something we want to take with us for next season.
“We have a very loyal and fantastic fanbase and they are now seeing good performances and results at home and as long as we keep producing that form I am sure they will keep singing our names from the terraces like they do.
“I don’t think Gillingham will be in the league to make up the numbers next year, they will be there to be at the very top of this division, rightly so with the squad that has been put together so far and with a couple of additions in the summer.”
It was MacDonald’s goal from a free-kick that put the Gills ahead against Orient. Another of his set-pieces later in the game led to the penalty and a second goal - and he was happy to hand over penalty duties to Cheye Alexander.
Commenting on the big moments in the match, he said: “As soon as Laps went down (for a free-kick on 16 minutes) I knew straight away that I wanted to take it. I had another old wise head with me in Shaun Williams and we could see where the wall was set up. I told him I would touch it to him and bend it round the wall, luckily for me it ends up bottom corner.
“As soon as I saw the second free-kick Conor Masterson came up to me and said he wanted to take it but I politely told him he needed to move away! The second free-kick I was going goalkeeper’s side with a bit more power and their lad stuck his arm up and I think it is a penalty, if that was us I would expect it to be given.
“I was going to take the penalty but Cheye was adamant that he was very confident, I allowed him to take it and he put it in the back of the net.
“Cheye had sprinted from halfway to let me know he was desperate to take it and if someone is confident like that the last thing anyone wants to see is people arguing about taking a penalty. I was happy for Cheye to take it and I have seen them tuck them away before, luckily for us he scored and made it 2-0.”
After that the lights went off at Priestfield, the players were forced off for over 20 minutes and when play resumed the final 10 minutes of the match was played at a walking pace.
“It was bizarre,” said the 33-year-old. “I have been involved in games where floodlights have gone out before but come on pretty much immediately after but they were talking 10-15 minutes (delay).
“They (Orient) had just been promoted, we were winning 2-0, everyone was happy, I don’t think the managers even wanted the game to continue. I think everyone was happy with where it was.
“I understand some fans were frustrated when they were shouting “attack” but we had earned the right to play out the last 10 minutes, they had earned their right because of their position, really strange, bizarre, never been involved in anything like it but if I am honest I was blowing so was happy to see out the last 10 minutes like it.
“Whatever happened in the last 10 minutes, we beat the league leaders at home and it’s a pat on the back, a well done. I have previously talked before about taking momentum with us into the summer break and into next season, fingers crossed we do that.”
