Gareth Ainsworth reiterated the importance of making big changes in the off-season following Gillingham's 6-2 defeat against Barnet at The Hive.
The Gills boss acknowledged that the level of the performances have been far from where they need to be and that there must be significant improvements. He is hoping that the summer period will allow them to address the needed changes, and will be doing all that he can to turn things around on the pitch during the 2026/27 campaign.
Sullivan Booth made his professional debut, impressing in what was otherwise a frustrating afternoon. The 17-year-old scored to bring the Gills back on level terms in the 13th minute before his smart cross allowed Josh Andrews to score a consolation in the closing seconds. Ainsworth was delighted for the impressive academy player.
Needing to make changes...
The levels are just not at the level that we need to be in League Two. If we need to get out of League Two, if we need to finish in the top half of League Two at least, then we need massive changes at this club. I want to be a part of that.
I am a scrapper, and it will never get me down. I will have a go, and I will fight my way out of anything. That is who I am.
I fought my way in my career to play at the top, and I am going to fight my way at this management to find a way to get this team better. I am absolutely committed to that.
My style is up and at them and in their face. Can we press? Can we get the second balls? Can we get it wide and get chances? You haven't seen it yet. Not really, we have seen a couple of glimpses of it. I want to get the players who can play my style and my way of playing.
On Sullivan Booth's impressive debut...
What I will say is that there is one shining light in that performance today, and that is Sully Booth. I am so pleased that I picked him. The only thing that I am gutted about is that he is on the end of a 6-2 defeat, because he doesn't deserve it.
Sully, well done, kid. He has got a future, a big future. He has taken his goal brilliantly. Right place, right time. It was a great ball across the face of the goal, and then he got the assist for Josh Andrews.
A first-year academy player there has stepped up and done really well, so I am really pleased for him.
On the travelling support...
It was fantastic for the fans to turn up like they do. I have said that it is a Championship away support, without a doubt. They have every right to turn because we aren't good enough defensively. We let too many in. The fans, they never fail to get behind us and support us.
