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Headley: Ronnie and Stan? They're keeping us up!
The worry for some fans is that the other teams at the bottom (Rotherham aside) have also picked up. Both Coventry City and Nottingham Forest have shown signs of improvement under their respective new managers, Mickey Adams and Gary Megson. Their upturn in fortunes has meant that Gillingham's improved form has had little impact on the Championship table. Stan has always said not to worry about other teams' results, as if the Gills do their job, they'll be safe. Some believe that we will survive, while others feel that the improvement of the others around us will leave us condemned to relegation anyway.
Well, for my money, I think we'll survive. Just. The reason for this can be found just above the bottom four in the league table. As well as picking up the results we desperately need, the cavalry are coming to save us, Forest and probably Coventry too. That cavalry consists of Crewe, Cardiff and Plymouth.
As I write this column Crewe Alexandra are in freefall. Since they sold star striker Dean Ashton to Norwich City in the December transfer window Dario Gradi's men have fallen disastrously. Previously thought to be safe after a good winter, the Railwaymen have failed to win a single game since the departure of their talismanic young striker - and are hurtling down the table towards the relegation zone. They have a reputation for playing pretty football, with good young players. But pretty football rarely gets you out of a relegation scrap, particularly if you no longer have someone to put the ball in the net. I'm certain they will go down.
The other major loser at the moment is Cardiff City. Managed by the likeable Lennie Lawrence, the Bluebirds are in serious financial trouble - and are reported to have their entire squad up for sale. Captain Graham Kavanagh was shipped off to Wigan before he knew what was going on - and more look set to follow him out of the Ninian Park doors. On the field, Lawrence and his side are gamely picking up points here and there, but with the pressure from the boardroom so great, and with a number of clubs sniffing around Ninian Park for potential bargains, it's not a good time to be a Cardiff supporter. With huge debts and the possibility of relegation on the horizon, the threat of administration can't be far away, which means the further sale of players may be necessary before the season's end. Either way, Cardiff's position in the league will be weakened, either by a 10-point deduction, or (more likely) by the sale of more key players. It's no way to survive a battle, but the Gills are in the best position to gain from any further misfortune in the Welsh capital.
Finally, there's Plymouth. They are a real Jekyll and Hyde sort of team, as they win comfortably one week, only to be thrashed the next week. The sale of influential midfielder Davif Friio to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest was both unbelievable and unwise, as since then, the West Countrymen have looked a very poor side indeed. The signing of Southampton youngster Dexter Blackstock has given them more energy up front, but it's at the back that they look weak - and with every week bringing a tough match, they are far from safe.
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Under Andy Hessenthaler, we were an unmotivated, disorganised, clueless outfit who capitulated in more matches than they performed in. Under Stan Ternent and Ronnie Jepson, those same players are now organised, committed and know exactly what's expected of them. Stan has stopped the rot - and now he's picking up points. It's going to be very nervous and extremely close, but I'm convinced that if we continue to back the side as we did against Wigan and Rotherham, I'm sure we'll get the results we need.
Ronnie and Stan? They're keeping us up!