Gareth Ainsworth will now set his focus towards the start of the 2025/26 campaign, following Gillingham's 2-0 victory against Dartford at Princes Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Gills boss was pleased with his side's performance throughout the game in their final pre-season friendly, especially in the first half, where Joe Gbode scored the game's only two goals.
A lot of work has been done throughout the pre-season, but Ainsworth knows that things will not click into place right away, admitting that it will take time.
Gbode scored his second and third goals of the pre-season, and the manager is happy with the progress that the academy graduate is making. Another youth graduate, Sam Gale, started the fixture against Dartford at right-back, and Ainsworth spoke on the versatility the young defender possesses.
Ainsworth provided a fitness update on the players that missed the final friendly, and thanked the supporters for their brilliant efforts they have given throughout the pre-season.
The end of pre-season and looking ahead to the new season...
It was a great performance, but results don't mean anything in pre-season. I said it after Ebbsfleet. The performances do, and that was a good performance, especially in the first half. I thought that we were very organised and structured. We had a way of playing. We had some moments of individual magic that turned the game. Joe Gbode has scored the two goals, and we will get the highlights, but it was a real team performance.
We were able to switch formations in the second half, and I am not sure which one we will play next week, but we are really pleased because that opened a door, which was fantastic.
You don't like pre-season as a player because it's a lot of fitness work. We have worked a lot on the mental side as well. We have worked on an identity, a structure and organisation that we want to put in place. As I have said, this is going to take time. It doesn't come overnight.
We're absolutely fine with the way that pre-season has gone. I am looking forward now to having a week preparing for Accrington away.
These boys have given me everything today, and I need that 46 times and probably in a good amount of cup games as well, coming up in the next 40-42 weeks. There are a lot of games to come. It is going to be a rollercoaster, with up and down emotions, but I am really pleased with the group and where we are.
Everyone in the squad playing a role...
Gone are the days where I used to try and keep everyone happy. You just cannot do it as a football manager. This game changes week by week, really quickly. Day by day, this game changes. It's amazing that it's the first game that we build up to in pre-season, and by the fifth or sixth game, the team looks totally different. The formations look different, and the style of play looks different.
I am lucky that I have 15 seasons in management and 20 as a player. You learn a lot from those days. They are great headaches to have because they are a great set of lads. All that I will say to them is, stick with the plan. Stick with your role, and no matter what your role is, it will be an important one.
On Joe Gbode...
He is definitely maturing as a player. I love working with Joe. I think we have got some cracking work to do with him. I said to him that I coach the areas to receive the ball and to get him high up the pitch on the ball. The rest is up to you. He has proved today just what a handful that he can be.
He can go both ways. He has got a great left and a good right foot, and he has scored two goals today. The second one was trying to be claimed by someone else, stabbing it in, but I think that it went to Joe. The first one was a very assured finish, just like it was at Ebbsfleet the other night.
Versatility of Sam Gale...
Sam's a really great deputy at right-back, or right wing-back. His main position is centre half, obviously, but he has got all the attributes to play anywhere across the back line. I am really comfortable with him there.
Fitness updates...
Everyone saw Seb [Palmer-Houlden] pull up with his hamstring, but it's not as bad. We have gone in, and it might have been a bit of cramp. That could be a positive.
We're lucky that we have Elliott Nevitt back fit now. Aaron Rowe and Sam Vokes are really close. We have got some firepower. Hopefully, Seb's injury is not too bad, and we can get him involved as well.
Thanking the fans for their efforts in pre-season...
Thanks for the support throughout pre-season, everyone. It's not easy. Some people go away. It's been raining and it's been sunny. We have been to non-league grounds, league grounds and astroturf grounds. The same faces come and get behind the boys, and that is football. I understand that, and I want to give my all for those people.
