By Jack Nolan
April 12 2007

Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson has warned his players that they still have to prove they are worth a new contract, especially away from home.
With many players out of contract at the end of this season, Jepson said: "They have something to prove and hopefully they will go and show us that. They can certainly win contracts but there has to be an improvement on the form away from home. Players are playing for their future and whether there are two games to go or 20, if you are a professional and worth your sort, you will want to go out there and win anyhow. I will make my mind up at the end of the season as we currently have to focus on what we are trying to do now."

Jepson also warned his side that they are still not safe despite the key win against Bristol City last Monday. Jepson said: "We are not mathematically safe as yet and will keep on going. Chesterfield are fighting for their lives. They beat Crewe on Saturday and it will be a very difficult game. We knew the importance of the game against Bristol City and that result on Monday was massive for us. We go there in good heart after a very welcome three points.

"Look at the cup runs they had earlier this season. It is a difficult place to go. The report we had from their game on Saturday; they battered Crewe. We know it is going to be very tough. We will have to stand up to the physical affect on Saturday as Chesterfield will be throwing everything at us. They'll be looking for a win so we know that it will be all hands to the pump. Hopefully we can maintain what we did on Monday."

Jepson has some injury woes ahead of the trip to Chesterfield, and Jepson continued: "We have got a long injury list at the moment so will have to see where we are up to tomorrow morning. Gary Mulligan and Dean McDonald are a bit sore, Felix Bastians had a bang on his knee and Duncan Jupp and Matty Jarvis are both out. We will assess things when we arrive at Chesterfield on Friday. We are doing a bit out on the pitch today and I've had to draft a few of the kids in to make the numbers up. We'll give everybody a chance to be fit, or thereabouts, for us and see how we go from there."

The Gills boss also extended Romain Larrieu's loan deal at Priestfield so he will be available for two more games. Jepson was pleased but also said how frustrated he has been by Kelvin Jack's persistent injuries. Jepson said: "We have signed Romain Larrieu for a further fortnight. I know Plymouth wanted him to go back and maybe play some games for them as they think very highly of him. I spoke to Ian Holloway and Tim Breacker yesterday and they understand our predicament. It is nice of them to let him stay.

"I don't know about Kelvin Jack, I haven't got a crystal ball. He has got a sore knee; it has swollen up. He is currently working with the physio, so I'll let him assess that and guide us. It is not easy for my physio, he has been working hard all season and Kelvin jack had been training flat-out for three weeks; kicking balls here, there and everywhere and diving around. He told the physio on Sunday morning that he felt it with his first kick of the game. It is disappointing and we'll give him the treatment like we have been doing for most of the season."

Jepson was pleased with The Gills' impressive victory over promotion pushers Bristol City, and said how he has tried everything to sort out The Gills' woeful away form. Jepson said: "It was a massive win and I am really pleased we have got that on board. Looking at our injury list at this moment in time, if we had lost on Monday, to go to Chesterfield with what we have, it would be twitchy bum time. Everyone was expecting a home defeat but I think the players went out there, didn't hide and nobody shirked their responsibility. That was very pleasing for me.

"If we had a decent away form, we would be in the play-offs, there is no two-ways about that. We have tried everything we can but I think it is a psychological thing and, mentally, a few of the boys are a bit weak away from home. We need to be mentally tougher away and I've tried a lot of different personnel and other things. That is something that has to be addressed and it is something that will be addressed in the summer. Hopefully the lads can rally on Saturday and whatever team I pick, they can put a good performance in."

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