Martin Allen's dog Monty. Picture by Laura Cartledge.

Martin Allen’s Monty makes the bench

There was a new face on the Gillingham bench in their first pre-season game against Dartford on Saturday, but boss Martin Allen insists it won’t be a permanent signing.

Monty the dog, Allen’s faithful companion, spent the second half in the dugout at the Princes Park Stadium during the 1-0 win, having kept guard in the away dressing room in the first half before it became too crowded in the showers for him with the mass of substitutions which took place.

The well-behaved Labrador never looked likely to enter the field of play, but after the final whistle he was bounding around the pitch and proved a distraction while Allen conducted his post-match interviews.

Allen revealed on Talk Sport radio Monty came to the game as he had been ill during the week and so wanted to keep an eye on him.

“He’s been poorly this week, which is why I had to take him to work,” he said. “He ended up at the vet one night getting scans, it was pretty worrying.

“We’ve had some late restless nights, I’ve taken him to Gillingham to be with me in case. The kit man would normally take him for a walk, it was so hot in the car before the game I took him into the dressing room, the dog had to come out because he was sat in the showers. It would never be like that on league game.”

The 46-year-old former Barnet boss also said he was leading by example to help the players get in shape for the start of the season with a wager.

“I’ve got a week to lose half a stone, if not I’ve got pay £100 to the player’s social committee, which is why today I’ve had two apricots and yoghurt,” he said. “I’ve got enough fat reserves to last me a week, it feels like I’m pregnant with this belly I’ve got.

“I’ve trained this morning at the gym, and I’ve got a long bike ride, and I’ll do some running, it’s quite nice to do the exercise anyway.

“I’m going to do it, I’m not going to stand in front of those players and fail. The message is a good one, don’t ask the players to do anything you wouldn’t do yourself, it’s time for me to get my head down and do some exercise.”