Overview

• Gillingham confirmed the 52-year-old will have heart surgery this week following routine screening.
• Long-time assistant Richard Dobson will lead first-team affairs while Ainsworth recovers.
• Ainsworth described the procedure as planned and routine and said he expects to be back within weeks.
• Chairman Brad Galinson said the club has known about the operation for weeks, set health as the sole priority, and asked fans to back Dobson and the players.
• Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Harrogate ended a club-record 21-game unbeaten run and was Ainsworth’s final match before stepping away.