Gareth Ainsworth passed up an opportunity to manage Gillingham a year ago and is glad he’s been given a second chance.

Ainsworth left QPR in October 2023 after a run of defeats but his previous success at Wycombe Wanderers led the Gills to his door when they were looking for a permanent manager after sacking Stephen Clemence.

Ainsworth had another opportunity, however, and the Gills weren’t prepared to wait. Mark Bonner got the job instead.

Looking back at that time, Ainsworth said: “We had quite a few teams come for us (after QPR) and one of them was a fantastic project abroad, which really whet our appetite.

“We’d probably been hit hard at QPR and thought ‘that's a fantastic opportunity.’

“That was the main reason we didn't come in the first place. We held out for something that never materialised.

“You make those decisions sometimes. In hindsight, probably not the right decision, but we made a decision.”

In November 2024, Ainsworth ended up at struggling Shrewsbury Town, joining them as head coach. They were bottom of League 1 and after initial success, they dropped back down to the foot of the table.

When the Gills came calling again, it was an opportunity Ainsworth couldn’t pass up again.

He said: “When they came back, we knew that they were true to their word that we were their number one targets.

“We’re really pleased and look forward to working with Brad, Shannon and Joe on moving forward with this club.”.

Assistant boss Richard Dobson followed him to the Gills from Shrewsbury.

The management pair had previously met the Galinson owners and managing director Joe Comper when they spoke at the end of last season

Dobson said: “We're in absolute alignment and I think that's the key thing. I'm really excited about the senior group of people at this club and what we can achieve together.

“I think we warmed to each other when we first met. When you're around good people and you know they're good people, you get drawn to them again. It's probably fate that this has happened.

“It's nice to be at a place where we felt so wanted and where we're all very much on the same page.

“I'm really looking forward to the journey. There's a lot to develop here.

“I've got a background in youth development I'm really excited about the area of Kent that we can pick players up from.

“You need longevity for those young players to come through to the first team. Two of them are already doing great, why can't there be a lot more?

“If we can be a club that can attract young players because we give them an opportunity, as we always have done in the past, then let's build on that.”