Gillingham League Two Odds: Gills 2/1 to be promoted

Gillingham have invested well in their bid to get out of League Two and may have addressed their goalscoring issues with Elliott Nevitt's arrival from Crewe.

Gillingham League Two Odds

(Odds will display when market is available)

The 2023/24 campaign was a rollercoaster one at the Priestfield Stadium. The Gills won their first four league games but then lost four of the next seven to drop to eighth and the board decided to part company with manager Neil Harris.

In came Stephen Clemence, who got the team playing football but didn't produce wins, and he too headed for the exit with the board saying results had "not met the standards and expectations set by the club".

The incoming Mark Bonner, who, in a turn of events, was replaced by Harris as Cambridge boss last November after four years in charge, looks a good choice as coach. The 38-year-old led the U's to League Two promotion in 2020/21 and his relative youth belies his experience having worked his way up through the ranks at the Abbey Stadium.

He's had money to invest and looks to have done well in attracting some decent new boys to the club. Armani Little and Aaron Rowe have both signed as free agents, with Rowe particularly exciting on the evidence of last season's loan at Crewe.

Looking back at last season, it is obvious to see where the Kent club fell short. Now-departed Connon Mahoney top scored with seven as they netted just 46 times across the same number of matches, with only bottom side Forest Green converting on fewer occasions. That lack of sharpness up front counteracted their good work in the other box, where they conceded 57 times, a record better than promoted Crawley.

Those scoring woes may have been countered by the signings of Nevitt and Jack Nolan. Nevitt scored 16 times to help Crewe finish sixth before losing to Crawley in the play-off final at Wembley and Bonner will be hoping to see him rekindle his relationship with Rowe.

The 27-year-old is 25/1 to be the division's top scorer and the market is clearly working on the assumption that he will need a big season, with Nolan and Jacob Wakeling both 50/1.

Both those players are also new signings, with Portsmouth-born Nolan returning to the south after spells at Reading, Walsall and Accrington. He netted 17 times for Stanley last term, so might be a value chance, while Wakeling has arrived on loan from Peterborough.

Gillingham look more balanced this season and would love to repeat last term's start of four straight victories. They open their campaign against Saturday's visitors Carlisle, the Cumbrians perhaps feeling fortunate to be able to get one of the most punishing treks in the English football pyramid out the way in August. However, their hosts are 19/20 to win before themselves hitting the motorway to Morecambe and Fleetwood and then welcoming Chesterfield on 31st August.

An EFL Cup tie against Championship Swansea on 13th August also offers the chance to build momentum. Win and you create confidence and open the opportunity for a big draw in the second round. Lose, and it is seen as a free hit from which Bonner will take any available positives.

Early momentum is so often decisive in promotion battles and a big August could lead to a memorable season and a return to League One for the first time since 2021/22.

Bonner has the pedigree and looks to have recruited well, keeping hold of key defenders and adding proven quality up front to try and correct the issues that befouled Harris and Clemence last term.

Carlisle could be tough first up, while Fleetwood also came down and have a point to prove. Morecambe were 15th last term and may find themselves in the same situation, while Chesterfield are expected to push for another promotion after coming up from the National League.

It's a tough run, but one that can show them where they stand and where they can improve and 10/11 for the top seven should be Bonner's minimum aim. Things look good for Gillingham and they could be ready to return to the third tier.