Gillingham quartet look set to star in Gareth Ainsworth’s new-look side in 2025-26 | OneFootball

Four current players look set to play key roles in Gareth Ainsworth's new-look Gillingham squad in 2025-26.

After a largely frustrating season at Priestfield, Gillingham fans are heading towards the summer with a genuine sense of positivity following the arrival of new boss Gareth Ainsworth.

The former Wycombe, QPR and Shrewsbury boss has blown through the club like a breath of fresh air, and the team’s performances on pitch have reflected that change in atmosphere, too.

In a whirlwind first month in charge for Ainsworth, the Gills have won twice and drawn five to extend the club’s unbeaten run to 10 games. And, with the new gaffer getting positive results while rotating the squad to get a good look at his players, optimism is high heading into the summer.

Ainsworth's squad changes will set the tone for next season

Ainsworth has been in player assessment mode through these early games with Gillingham as he prepares to refresh and reboot the Kent club’s squad in the summer.

He’s already stated that he prefers to work with a smaller squad, so a number of players are likely to get cut from the player list during the off-season. But new arrivals are a certainty, with Ainsworth set to work closely with the club’s Head of Recruitment Andy Hessenthaler to bring in players in key areas of need during the summer.

But, while the recruitment process is sure to dominate the social media discussion among Gills fans during the off-season, the new season will also offer the chance for a host of current Gills players to step up and play major roles under the Ainsworth in 2025-26.

He’s had a chance to run the rule over the playing squad, and there are a number of players who appear to be among his early favourites, and could potentially be the players who he builds the team around next season.

Here are four of those players, who each could play big roles in Ainsworth’s Gillingham team in 2025-26.

Sam Gale

Sam Gale is a slam-dunk for Gillingham’s Young Player of the Year, and might also be in the running for the full Player of the Year award, too.

His emergence from the Gills academy as a talented young prospect quickly gave way to his current status as a bonafide starter, and as the Gills head towards the summer, he’s undeniably one of the first names on the team sheet.

His character on and off the pitch suggests Gale is a potential Gillingham captain of the future, and he looks set to be a cornerstone for the Gills’ defence next season, operating either at centre back, on the right side of a back three, or at right back.

Conor Masterson

With veteran centre-back and club captain Max Ehmer’s time at the club looking like it’s coming to an end in the summer, Ainsworth looks set to turn to Conor Masterson to step into that senior centre-back role next season.

Masterson has been a defensive rock for the club, while also offering a dangerous set-piece presence in the opposition box. Now, with Ainsworth looking to build his side for the new season, Masterson looks all set to fill the senior role as he leads the Gills defence in 2025-26.

Jonny Williams

Welsh playmaker Jonny Williams has struggled to get comfortable at the club as his role in the Gills team has been chopped and changed over the course of the season.

But since Ainsworth arrived at the club, Williams has found himself playing in his best position, and his performances have improved as a result.

As we’ve written previously at Football League World, Williams could be like a new signing for the Gills. And, with his Premier League and international experience, plus his positive energy and quality on the ball, he could become a major player for the Gills as they look to make inroads towards promotion, starting next season.

Joe Gbode

One player who looks set to play a role in Ainsworth’s squad next season is Joe Gbode, who has been a regular player, either from the start or from the bench, for the new Gillingham boss over the last month.

Ainsworth has made no secret of his enthusiasm for Gbode’s raw talents, and admits that there is plenty of work to be done on the 20-year-old striker. And with Gbode coming off the bench early to score the Gills’ late winner against AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday, that optimism for Gbode’s future at Priestfield will only have increased.

He’s far from the finished article, and his involvement is likely to be more from the subs’ bench, especially if Ainsworth brings in an established goalscorer in the summer, but Gbode looks like a lock to form part of Ainsworth’s new-look Gills squad for next season.