Gillingham begin a new promotion challenge on Saturday and the manager can’t wait to take charge at Priestfield properly for the first time.

Mark Bonner is the man chosen to lead Gills’ assault on League 2 this season and they start with a home match against Carlisle United.

“I am excited to see Priestfield properly,” said the Gills boss.

“I am excited about all of the things that brings, to see the players at their maximum in that scenario, it is why we do it.

“I can’t wait to get going and I hope the players are excited.

“Pre-season can drag. We have had five good weeks but if you ask players there comes a point in pre-season where it’s like, ‘come on, let’s get started!’.”

The Gills emerged from a six-game pre-season schedule unbeaten.

Reflecting on the summer build-up, Bonner said: “Some people can go into the season feeling really happy about themselves and some really desperate, thinking ‘oh my goodness where are we?’.

“In the end, we have done five weeks of really good work, building some partnerships, building some understanding in our style, with loads of improvements still to make.

“Monday [we came in] with a slightly different focus towards the games. We have had lots of good games, lots of different types of games and now we start with a great one to look forward to.”

Bonner was appointed on May 7 - replacing Stephen Clemence, who starts this season at League 2 rivals Barrow - and it’s been a long wait to get a proper game under his belt. He hasn’t faced that challenge since his final game in charge of Cambridge United at the end of November.

He said: “I am really happy with the lads, I have really enjoyed working with them.

“I am looking forward to seeing the behavioural shift that will happen now, because the pressure starts and we have to be fearless and go for games in the right way. We have to show real personality in our performances.

“Players will start to not make teams and maybe not come on and the fairness and the equality of pre-season time that’s there goes and then you start to see the spirit of the team get built.

“We have a great first month to look forward to.”

Gillingham’s home start on Saturday is followed by a Tuesday night trip to Swansea City in the Carabao Cup (7.45pm).

The Gills then have back-to-back weekend games at Morecambe and Fleetwood - an early introduction to a division that is northern dominated.

They end the month back at home against Chesterfield.

Bonner said: “We need to try and make sure we are at the best level we can be to get a good result this week and then same again, rinse repeat for every three days for about nine months!”