Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has defended his decision to sign Owen Mason on an emergency loan as the team faces a goalkeeping crisis ahead of their League 2 opener against Walsall. The Gills handed a debut to keeper Owen Mason, who joined from Mansfield on an emergency seven-day loan, in the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Luton on Saturday. With summer signing Ollie Wright not featuring in pre-season due to injury, Ainsworth had to choose between handing Taite Holtam a rare first-team outing or moving into the loan market. He opted to bring in Mason, who has only one Football League appearance to his name but has spent time on loan at Gateshead and Southend in the past two seasons.
What happened?
Ainsworth explained that he wanted to give Mason a chance to prove himself, despite the short notice. "I think Taite, for me, it was just a bit early to shove him in and be number one," he said. "I wanted to go down this route and I'll stand by that. If it doesn't come off, then that'll be my fault, but I'm pretty sure that Taite's one for the future."
Why it matters for Gillingham
The decision to sign Mason on an emergency loan has raised questions about the team's goalkeeping department. Ainsworth has been under pressure to find a solution to the crisis, and the signing of Mason has been seen as a temporary fix. However, Ainsworth remains confident in his decision, saying that Mason has done well in his debut and will be given another chance if needed.
What comes next?
Gillingham will face Walsall in their League 2 opener on Saturday, and Ainsworth will be hoping that Mason can continue to perform well. The team will also be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing start to the season. Next fixture: vs Colchester (at home, 2027-02-27) (2nd in the table).
