Gillingham’s new head coach Stephen Clemence meets the press for the first time ahead of FA Cup match against Hereford

New boss Stephen Clemence was itching to get started at Gillingham and there was no way he was going to ease his way in.

Clemence took his first training session on Thursday at Star Meadow in Gillingham, aided by his assistant Robbie Stockdale and former interim manager Keith Millen.

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There was a suggestion that Millen could have taken charge on Saturday for the FA Cup game at Hereford.

But, speaking at his first Gills press conference on Thursday afternoon, Clemence said: “It would have been like I was ducking the game, I want to get out there, be with the players, get in that dugout and hopefully I can help them.

“Training was great, it is what I had been looking forward to the most. It seems like it has been a long process to actually do that, it has been a hectic couple of weeks but I am delighted to be here.

“I love being on the grass, Robbie is the same who I brought in with me, I thought we had a good session. I can already feel it in my voice because I haven’t been shouting for a year or so.

“We had to train at another site (because of the weather) but we found somewhere local, they were good to put us up, we had a good session,

“I have watched a lot of them already and I have seen pretty much all of the games this season. I can see they are a good group, you need to see them in the flesh, close up, I probably won’t really know until I get into the dugout and I see them on a matchday.

“I have seen lots of good players on the training ground but it is replicating that on a matchday under that pressure.

“They have been very open to what we have put to them, I could see there was a buzz on the training ground, which you would expect when there are new coaches there, they have been very good.”

This is Clemence’s first chance to be the main man, having spent over a decade as an assistant coach.

“I always felt there was going to be three stages of my career,” he said.

“I was very fortunate to have a good playing career but I had to work bloody hard to have it. There were people better than me but I maybe grafted harder. I knew I would take that attitude into coaching.

“When I first started (coaching) and I went into the dressing room the first time it wasn’t easy for me, standing in front of a load of players, it was difficult so your confidence has to grow and you need to get more sessions, develop yourself. I have done that for a number of years and now I am ready to have a go at this.

“I think if I had never had a go at head coaching or management, it would be something I would regret. This is the opportunity and I am hoping I can make some good memories for the people of Gillingham, something that we can look back on with fondness, that’s my aim.

“I will be giving my all to make the club successful, anyone that saw me play, I was 100%, I took that into my coaching career and I’m going to take that into my head coaching career too.

“I am not going to make any promises about where we will be by the end of the season but that has been my job all my life to win football matches and that is what I will try and do now.

“Brad (Galinson) and Paul (Scally) and Kenny (Jackett) have been very supportive since I met them, the structure is very good for a first time coach coming in, Kenny with his experience and if I don’t lean on that and tap into it, I would be very stupid.

“Kenny was a big factor for me, he is another one I am really looking forward to working with.”

And Clemence is happy to have Millen with him too.

The new head coach added: “Keith is involved and took part in the session on Thursday morning, the three of us shared it out. I took the tactical part, Robbie took some of the technical part and Keith took a small-sided game at the end, we are sharing it out.

“Keith has been absolutely fantastic and he will bring a lot to the table. He is happy to be involved, he has still got things going on with the B team but that will be a question for Kenny. I am happy to use Keith’s experience, he is a nice guy and the more good people around you the better.”

Asked what success would be this season, he said: “We have to make improvements on where we are at the moment, success is finishing higher than where we are now and that will take us somewhere near to where we want to be.

“I have to look at the process as to how we are playing and where I want to take that, that doesn’t change overnight. We can make small steps every week to try and have more control of the football and try and create more chances, that is what I think the supporters would want to see and what I would want to see if I was a paying customer, and that is what I will try and give them.

“I want to give the supporters a team that they are proud of, nothing against anything that has gone on before, but that’s the way I see it, I am hoping I can do that.”