Conor Masterson says the group must be professional and focus totally on the challenge ahead as MK Dons prepare to visit ME7.
Conor Masterson has promised that Gillingham players will be ‘giving everything for the badge’ on Saturday after news broke of the departure of the now-former manager Neil Harris.
The defender admitted that the news took the changing room by surprise but insists the players will be giving nothing less that one hundred percent as they look to respond with a victory against MK Dons.
“It’s still very fresh,” said Masterson. “We arrived in the morning ready for a meeting to analyse the last game and we were told by the Gaffer that he is parting ways with the club.
“He came in to the dressing room and told us; we were all a bit shocked, obviously, but this is football. We have to be professional and get on with our jobs, we have a big game on Saturday.
“I had a great relationship with Neil and I want to say thank you for everything he has done for me. He was a top person and he was well-respected but that is what the football world is and we just have to get on with what we do.
“It’s all very raw but Saturday is a big game for us and if we win we could go second, so we need to focus and get ready for the game.
“Keith Millen (who has taken over as interim manager) knows what to expect and he has been working with us on the training ground. He’s a good guy and a good coach so we are all looking forward to see what he can do.
“It is a clean slate for players and everyone has an opportunity now. My message to the fans is to just get behind the team, they know that we are professionals and we are going to give everything for the shirt on Saturday.
“We are only four points off the top so MK Dons is a big game for us. We want to win, we want to go out there and get all three points.
“They are a good team with quality at the top end of the pitch. Like every game in this league, they will be a tough test. We just have to be ready and focused.”