Gill steels himself for another glory bid

Gill has opted to switch to the Steelmen following a hugely successful two-year spell with West Midlands League Premier Division rivals Wolverhampton Casuals.

Casuals recorded third and fourth-placed finishes at Casuals, and was only denied promotion this year when the league was declared null and void due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But now Gill, who also led Wednesfield out of Division One and to a top-five finish in the top flight before joining Casuals, is aiming to tap into the potential at Bilston.

“It’s a bittersweet moment because I enjoyed my time at Cassies,” said Gill, who takes over at Queen Street from Wayne Spicer following his decision to join Redditch United.

“It wasn’t a pleasant conversation to have with the people at Cassies because I have enjoyed my time there.

“As a club, they did everything they said they would when I took over, but myself, my staff and the players worked really hard for them and delivered what we said we would. Had the season not been declared null and void, then we would have been promoted.

“But I felt it was the right time to move.

“I had a call to see if I would be interested and I felt that Bilston have the potential to be a step five club.

“If we can get it right on the pitch, then we will attract gates of 150 to 200 and that gives the club a chance of being able to compete and sustain itself at the level above.

“Bilston want to go up and promotion is the aim, the only aim.

“That probably puts a bit of pressure on me, but the external pressure will never be as high as the internal pressure I put myself under.”

As was the case when Gill – who also won the League Cup with both of his previous two clubs – swapped Wednesfield for Casuals, his backroom staff of assistant Lee Turton and coach Stuart Baker will follow him, as will the bulk of the first-team squad.

“Lee and Stuart will be joining me and probably about 10 players,” added Gill. “A lot of the players have been with us for four or five years and they want to progress.

“Had I stayed at Cassies, we would have lost a good few of them to clubs higher up or clubs who are offering money. It has cost them to play for me over the last few years because we didn’t have a budget and some of them have turned down good money to stay.

“But they are keen to give it another go at this level because they can also see the potential at Bilston.”

Gill has wasted little time starting his planning for next season.

“I have spoken to the lads who played at Bilston this year and about 12 of them have committed again,” he said. “We also have a few targets in mind and then it will be about putting together the best squad we can.”