Jepson: I Can Take The Flak

Gills manager Ronnie Jepson has insisted he can take the flak for the team’s poor start to the season – and that the players and staff are behind him.

Four defeats out of four so far this season have left many fans disappointed – and the manner of those defeats has appeased few.

With Jepson having signed 10 players over the summer, the pre-season prognosis had looked brighter, with the manager, who has been in charge since November 2005, having moulded his own squad after the best part of two years complaining that he had ‘not enough quality’ to choose from.

The start – coupled with Thursday’s admission that no more players would arrive before the transfer window closes – has left many fans questioning Jepson’s future, but he insisted he will not let that get to him.

He told the club’s official website: ‘It goes with the territory. When you come into these jobs, you know exactly what it is all about.

‘As pressure goes, I’d feel under more pressure if I was out in Iraq. I just hope the lads don’t go out there feeling nervous. I don’t mind taking a bit of flak for them, that is not a problem. The buck stops with me.

‘I just want the players to go out and express themselves, both for the supporters and me. I will feel a lot better at 10 to five on Saturday with three points on the board.

‘I understand the supporters frustrations and I know exactly where they are coming from. They have been excellent with me ever since I first came down here. It is nice taking the plaudits when things are going well for you but when things are not going your way and are against you, then you have got to take the stick.

‘I just don’t want the supporters giving the players stick. I don’t think it would affect the senior players but it may affect one or two of the younger boys.

‘If I get the stick, it won’t affect me or the way I prepare for Saturday’s game by giving 100% to the cause. I’ve got my backroom staff and the players behind me, I know they will go out there on Saturday and give me everything.

‘I don’t want them to be nervous, go out there, enjoy yourselves and express yourselves. Hopefully we will come away with a result.

‘I just want to ask the supporters to do what they have always done, back us and get behind us. If they have a moan, I haven’t got a problem with that as I share their frustrations at times.’