Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has called on supporters to “keep the faith”.

In his programme notes before Saturday’s win over Leyton Orient, the chairman pointed to the terrific turnaround at Newcastle under Alan Pardew.

Newcastle fans were, and still are, calling for Pardew’s sacking after a poor run of form but the club have since climbed to eighth in the Premier League after five wins in a row.

Gillingham ended a run of eight games without a victory in League 1 at the weekend.

But even before the success, Mr Scally was keen for his own management team to be left to get on with the job without the same level of criticism.

“We are a decent team and we have played some great football this season,” he said.

“We haven’t got the wins in plenty that we wanted so far but don’t throw the baby out with
the dishwater, hang in there and keep the faith.

“Stick together, because it’s encouragement, support and trust the team need right now and on that basis I am confident they will deliver.

“As for Peter Taylor and our management team, I feel for them to be honest. Good guys, nice individuals, great football people, working very hard, doing a good job, rebuilding a new team and trying to play a different style.

“(They have) not had the best of fortune with injuries, sending offs, international call-ups, changing formations. (They) can’t win in some people’s eyes, easy bait for the trolls who could of course all do a better job, under pressure from those that seem to know better (and) should be sacked according to some.

“It pains me to hear it all. How do any of us in life expect our manager and coaches to work when we heap so much external pressure on them, analysing every moment and criticising at every opportunity and posting comments on forums that are probably seen by their families and friends.

“How many people go to work every day in whatever work they do with the constant daily fear of losing their jobs if they get something wrong that day, or over the week or month?

“What I can tell you, is that if I had to go to war, I’d be more than happy to have those that battle for us week in week out on my side because they wouldn’t let you down, they certainly wouldn’t turn their backs on you.

“Alan Pardew is a good mate of mine and I can tell you the abuse he and his family were getting from our Geordie friends when Newcastle were in the relegation zone was quite frankly disgusting and unacceptable. How does that sit with the same people now he’s pulled a few wins and got them to touching distance of the top four?”

Taylor has put together a young team this season that until recently have been lacking in confidence. Mr Scally is sure they will come good.

He said: “We are lucky there is not a bad apple in the camp, we are lucky to have a squad of players that, to a man, have great individual ability and a good mix of different abilities.

“I believe most fans that understand football have seen many more positives than negatives so far this year. Whilst I accept those positives have not necessarily all turned into results, we are not far away.

“When I look back over the first third of the season, I can only remember one game, Scunthorpe at home, when I was really disappointed with the team, the performance and obviously the result.

“In all other games, I’ve been disappointed, as indeed we all will have been, if we haven’t won, but I’ve been impressed with what we’ve tried to do in those games, how we’ve played trying to take the positives and not focus so much on the negatives.

“It is not our intention to fail, there is and always will be a tremendous character and spirit within this club, from the boardroom to the dressing room.

“When I look into the eyes of the players and have conversations with them, I see and hear their determination to do well and be successful. They are proud of the shirt they wear, they work hard every day to improve their personal and team performances, they want to run out on the turf on a match day and do well, to excite the fans and win matches.”