Gareth Ainsworth ‘walks out’ of Shrewsbury Town, bottom of League One, to take over at Gillingham, 19th in League Two.
Ainsworth is set to leave his position as head coach of Shrewsbury Town to take over as manager of Gillingham after a deal was agreed.
Shropshire Star report of rumours of him potentially being on his way out first emerging last week with it claimed he had been spotted in the Kent town.
Ainsworth, who was appointed Shrewsbury’s head coach in November 2024, has faced a challenging tenure, with the team currently at the bottom of League One, struggling to avoid relegation.
His departure comes amid a difficult season for Shrewsbury, marked by a series of losses and fan frustration towards the running of the club.
Shrewsbury are 24th in League One with with 28 points from 37 games played, 14 points from safety. Gillingham are 19th in League Two with 43 points from 37 games played, 13 points above the drop zone and 16 points from the playoff places.
BREAKING: A deal has been agreed for Shrewsbury boss Gareth Ainsworth to become the next Gillingham manager 🚨 pic.twitter.com/syeQnOq56j
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 25, 2025
Ainsworth said, after defeat to Burton Albion: “There is a fear factor coming in now, I can feel it in the boys, and I have to try and alleviate that.
“They are feeling the pressure, I know that, and I can see it. Some of them have not been in this position as there are some young boys in there.
“I want to give them the message of no fear and good body language. They have got nothing to lose but they looked like they were playing a little bit within themselves and a bit careful.
“As soon as we conceded, the boys looked like they were defeated and that is really disappointing.
“I was giving everything to the end on the touchline and I want them to follow.”
Twitter users reacted as Gareth Ainsworth reportedly ‘walks out’ of Shrewsbury Town to take over at Gillingham
@OffTheLineBlog: Gareth Ainsworth to #Gills. Doesn’t fix my stylistic worries at Gills. Fear won’t be a success unless given time to create a “culture”; luxury not afforded to Clemence / Bonner. Did well @ #WWFC with getting out of L2. He MUST be allowed to recruit to fit his style Hess-free. Mixed views; ultimately, Dice Roll #3 of “Hire Previous L2 Promotion Winner” Tour. I’d already identified the signings that I think The Gills should have made for my piece. Now: back to the drawing board. A very different “set” of players needed.
@Paul_Beaney: I’m buying a leather jacket 🧥
@Salop1977: Don’t blame him either, club is a shit show under Wycherley. Good luck to him. #Salop
@keelan_____: We needed a nice fresh restart. Whether people wanted Coleman to stay or not, at least with Ainsworth we have someone we can all get behind.
@masonx0280: Oh, HMS piss the league time baby
@davidwt1997: I think this sends a clear message as to where Salop are right now. The feeling around the ground in the aftermath of the game against the Brewers the other week was quite telling, and this maybe suggests things aren’t as good as the horizons suggested. #Salop #BAFC
@alexgress: wtf?!? 🤣🤣
@bigev84: Very happy with that!
@Hambo1982: What on earth!
@Darren_Chandler: Happy with Ainsworth. 👍 #Gills
@gfcpemble: Think this is really good if true. Chance to properly look at the squad and build for next year. Presumably the manager we wanted to get in, clearly they need to get this right and stick with him now #gills
@Champ_GFC74: A rare commodity in modern football days, both with owners and fans alike , i know, but for the love of God, can we please have some time and patience with this appointment. 🙏 #Gills
@Naylor94: I’m actually really quite excited about the appointment of Ainsworth. If there’s one thing he’s really good at, it’s uniting a fan base behind its side. Something we haven’t had barring four weeks under Bonner. As long as he’s given time now to get his ideas across #Gills
@rachaelsasha: Oh my fucking God, is this for real? Gareth Ainsworth to be our gaffa? Just wow!!!! 🤯 #gills
@IMRMEZZI: I know top v bottom can be a daunting task, but to leg it to a bottom end L2 side to get out of it is a new one 🤣 #bcfc #salop
@jack_the_gill: This is an exceptional appointment imo. But we truly are a circus at this point. Let’s hope we give him more than 6 months.
@TheLeftyScot: Tried to be patient, but if this does come out as true then fans have every right to be angry, and to protest the current regime. Ainsworth & the takeover were sold as mutually exclusive, and supposed to be the things to be hopeful about for the future. Shameful. #Salop
@EmlynTimmons: A great job for anyone in the summer with the budget to become available and players out of contract… glad we’ve gone with experience #gills 💙
@loganstfc: #Salop social media has gone from happy birthday Toto to absolute meltdown in the space of 20 minutes
Top manager! pic.twitter.com/1HwFVeiBJB
— Michael Norman (@MichaelNormNorm) March 25, 2025
It was said Ainsworth went to Shrewsbury for the project, to help build a new culture at the club. For him to move on so quick would assume something has changed, on either side. As for Shrewsbury the task of staying up becomes almost impossible #Salop https://t.co/wVDLtc4lNJ
— Matthew Bottomley (@MBottomleySport) March 25, 2025
