Steve Evans turned down advances from three other clubs for the chance to take up the challenge at Priestfield.

He’s got his work cut out to make Gillingham play-off material but it’s something he’s ready to take on.

Two of the clubs who approached him were in League 1 while the other was in his native Scotland.

Evans said: “There were a couple of chairman who I met, good people, but their objective was to be mid-to top half.

“They were bigger clubs than Gillingham, one of them certainly.

“But I went away and thought what would be the buzz in me by turning up there, having to move into the city or town and live and breath it, if the objective is going to be that?

“The chairman here said we don’t have a budget for it but fighting for the play-offs would be tremendous – those were his opening words. That gives you a buzz.

“It was the same at Rotherham, when we went back-to-back (promotions), the same at Leeds when we went from almost relegation to almost making the play-offs.

“It will be tough here but we will try, I will give it everything I have.”

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Not all fans have been happy with Gillingham chairman Paul Scally’s choice of manager but the 56-year-old former Leeds boss is used to it.

“I have never walked into a club and had 100% of the fanbase delighted (about it),” claimed Evans.

“I am passionate on the side, perhaps that passion has been too far in the past and there might be occasions where it happens
again.

“But in the words of Paul Scally it has to be the odd occasion, so long as it is the odd occasion and not regular.

“The first and foremost thing we need to do is give the Gills fans a team that they want to come and see and what they want to watch on a regular basis.

“Every supporter here at Priestfield wants to walk out at five to five with a smile on their face and singing the team off.

“I have been here when they have done that and it is an intimidating place.

“I don’t have any messages to the supporters apart from give us an opportunity. Judge us on January 1 and at the end of the season.

“Paul Scally won’t have to step forward and sack me if it’s not good.

“I’ve been around the block. I am not here to earn a penny more than Steve Lovell did, I am fairly okay financially, it’s winning that makes me work, it gets me up in the morning.”

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