Jepson: He isn't for sale

By Jack Nolan
December 21 2006

Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson has said that Gillingham star Matthew Jarvis isn't for sale come January. Jepson claims that he is also getting tired of all the speculation surrounding Jarvis and calling it 'unhealthy'.

Jepson said, "I don't want anybody to leave this football club as I want to strengthen my squad. We are taking 19 players to Tranmere, which doesn't give me much room for movement. I would like to add to my squad rather than deplete it.

"I just hope the media speculation doesn't affect Matty Jarvis. I don't think it will as he is a good, level-headed kid. Obviously, all the speculation is not healthy but we can always put a stop to that by saying that he is not for sale."

Despite Jepson claiming he isn't for sale, he may well be forced into selling his star player. Jarvis has been linked with big money moves to Newcastle, Charlton, Watford and Arsenal and should a offer to good to be refused be made to Gillingham chairman Paul Scally, with the current financial predicament Scally will be tempted into selling Jarvis.

Scally has also said that the only way for transfer funs to be made available to Jepson, players will have to be sold as there is no transfer funds available.

Meanwhile, speaking about Gillingham's hectic Christmas period, Jepson said: "I think it is nice to play over Christmas and it is great for the supporters, who if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here in the first place. It is nice to give them a game on Boxing Day and New Years Day. It has always been that way and it is nice to have one of those traditions left. I look forward to it and enjoy it.

"It is part and parcel of the game. They are well looked after and we'll go up the night before. Then it is about 90 minutes of graft. We will prepare them well for that. It is then the mental side of it, which they need to prepare well for, which they have done and will do. It is all part of the job with the Christmas period and it is good to be part of it. Come the summer, the players can have a nice rest."

Next up for Gillingham however is a long trip to Prenton Park to face Tranmere Rovers. Jepson said: "I think we have got a good Christmas as travelling goes and we have had a lot worse before. Some people make a fuss with it but they are just normal games. It is a funny one with Tranmere as we're not sure how the traffic is going to be on the way up and down. Most of the players are fine. They have trained well and are looking forward to the Tranmere game. I'm looking for an improvement on the first half of the Bournemouth game and hopefully they can improve on it and come away from Tranmere with something.

"Whatever time of the year you go to Tranmere, you know you are in for a hell of a game. Our record is not too good at Prenton Park. It is a difficult place to go and we've tried to have them watched in the last couple of games but both times our scout has got twenty minutes from the ground and the game has been called off. I've looked at weather forecast and the conditions look like they will be okay but it depends on the fog.

"We will respect them and we know what Ronnie Moore is all about. It will be a difficult task and I am sure they will be nice and fresh and waiting for us. Tranmere will be up there at the end, without a doubt. I know a few players and played with some of them myself, players like Gareth Taylor and John Mullin. They are good, old pros and can still move about a bit. They have got some decent lads through the squad and make no bones about it, they will be up there."

With games against Leyton Orient, Oldham Athletic and Millwall in the space of just seven days, Jepson is hoping to get a good run together which could see the Gills back in the play-off hunt, rather than the relegation battle. Jepson said: "Everybody is looking for good runs in this league. Like I have said in the past, it is all about consistency, one minute we are up, the next minute we are down. We have got a busy Christmas period, so come 2nd January, hopefully we will have gathered a few points and are looking in the right direction to push on. I think a lot of the managers in this league are like that, with the exception of the big boys who have got a bit of clout. First and foremost, we want to make sure we are safe. The sooner we can do that, the better so that we can push on and that is what we are looking to do.

"Other people may have thought Orient at home on Boxing Day was a gift, but I wouldn't as I know what this league is like. They have just won at Forest and at Northampton and you can see how difficult this league is. They have hit a bit of form, at the right time for the Christmas period, and if they continue that, they will be in the top-half come the New Year. That could also be the same with us when I say we need a few points on the board. When teams like Bournemouth come to you, everyone thinks it is going to be another three points in the bag, but it doesn't work like that. Other than the top boys, the top four or five in this league, anybody can beat anybody on any given day."