Hello everyone and welcome to our Boxing Day clash with Southend United. I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that you all received what you wanted yesterday. Today though, we are all looking for a great three points so let's hope that the boys run home with the win.

Since my last notes we suffered some disappointing defeats to Port Vale and AFC Bournemouth but we must remain positive. Rome was not built in a day and the new manager, understandably, requires time to get this team winning regularly and we can certainly take many positives from both of those games. At times we played some simply brilliant football, football that I am sure we would not have seen four months ago, so it is a testament to Mark and his team and to the hard work that they are putting in. The new players seem to be settling in well and do not seem to be daunted by the sizeable step up from non-league to League One, which is very pleasing indeed. I think their introduction has been a welcome boost to the side and has invigorated the team with a hunger and desire that had been lacking.

I understand that it is very easy to get lost in the romantic notion that, with a new manager, new ideas, and new players, we will achieve instant success. However, football does not work like that. I have been in this game long enough to understand that it takes time to mould and nurture a team and this is what Mark is currently doing. We will not win every game, although that would be a bonus, but as long as the players show heart, passion, desire, enthusiasm and the will to win then we can have no complaints.

The January transfer market will be open soon and there will be some departures as well as some new additions to the squad. Mark has identified a couple of players as suitable candidates to improve our squad and we will be working throughout the window to try and secure their services. We don't want people in the club that don't want to be here, we want winners, and that is the atmosphere that we want to instil throughout the club. That also implies to the stands as well. We don't want negative comments; we want your full support so if you want to only offer negativity then feel free to stay at home. We need a real united effort, we have a great new manager, a decent playing squad and things are really moving forward for this club. If we continue to receive fantastic support then we can really push forward.

This past week saw Chris Dickson's final game for us when we played Brighton at The Withdean. Unfortunately I was unable to hold off writing my notes until after that game so I am unable to write about his last performance, but I can certainly write about his other games with us. Chris was a sensational entertainer on the field, an exciting but lethal player who scored some brilliant goals for us. His magical right foot will be sorely missed, but I can take an immense amount of pride from the fact that he came to Gillingham with only potential to his name and leaves us with a reputation that has earned him a call up to the provisional Ghana squad. We will be looking to bring him back to the club, if Charlton see no immediate need for him, for the rest of the season but if we are unsuccessful then I would like to express my thanks to him and my best wishes for the future.

Today's game will be a tough one. Southend showed that they are a good side when we played them last time around and their position in the league is no illusion, so we must be at our best today. Get right behind the boys this afternoon and make KRBS Priestfield a rocking venue!

Once again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

Up the Gills,

Paul D.P. Scally

Chairman