Impressive Gills moulded in the style of no-nonsense Stimson
Resilient, never afraid to face a challenge and confident in his own ability, Stimson is the main reason the unfancied Gills snatched promotion from Coca-Cola League Two with the last kick of last season.
Since arriving at Priestfield in November 2007, Stimson has done things his own way and not given a second thought about what other people may think of him.
As the Gills struggled in vain to avoid relegation from League One in his first season in charge, the former Newcastle United defender signed players he knew and trusted from his days managing Grays Athletic and Stevenage Borough in the Conference.
The Kent side's fans were less than impressed as previously unknown names such as Dennis Oli, Simeon Jackson, Stuart Thurgood and John Nutter all arrived.
But Stimson knew what he was doing. He knew he had to plan for the future at Priestfield and if that meant taking a relegation on the chin before bouncing back, then so be it.
The 41-year-old's belief was proved accurate in the 92nd minute of Gillingham's League Two play-off final last season, when Jackson struck his 20th goal of the season to send his side straight back into League One at the first time of asking at the expense of Shrewsbury.
In a dull final on a hot day at Wembley, the game looked all set to go to penalties before the Canadian striker with the strange accent sent Gills followers into raptures with his opportunistic effort.
That resilience to try and squeeze a result out of any game had been evident in Gillingham's play all season — and it embodied Stimson's own attitude.
After his side had been soundly drubbed 3-0 by a rampant Exeter City at St James's Park in October, Stimson was out on the pitch answering journalists' questions.
It was tipping it down with rain and Stimson's side had just been taught a lesson by the Grecians — and the travel-weary hacks from Kent were giving the Gills boss a bit of a grilling.
Under the circumstances the manager would have been well within his rights to tell the assembled reporters where to stick their questions and make a swift exit in search of solace on the team bus.
Yet Stimson preferred to face up to what he felt were his responsibilities as manager of the team and never showed any sign of trying to duck or dodge the series of curveballs served up by the members of the fourth estate.
The manager's tendency to just get on with things was also reflected in his reaction to that late win at Wembley in May.
Gillingham had barely completed their lap of honour before Stimson was speaking of how he would attempt to improve and prepare the team for League One.
And he has already backed up that talk by signing experienced defensive midfielder Kevin Maher to provide plenty of steel in the middle of the park.
If Stimson manages to continue recruiting well and keep hold of his key existing players, another impressive season could be in store for the Gills.
Gillingham manager Mark Stimson
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