WHILE everyone is raving about Port Vale’s strike force little has been said about Gillingham’s impenetrable defence.

In the last two games the Gills have kept clean sheets and left keeper Stuart Nelson as a virtual spectator.

Both Southend and Bristol Rovers had spells in those games where they put the pressure on but when the Gills need to defend, they defend well.

An opposition team can have the ball all they want but what Gillingham seem to be able to do lately is stop the shots coming in and that’s only done through hard work and organisation.

New signing Leon Legge is the experienced and mobile defender that Martin Allen has been hunting for ever since Tom Flanagan’s loan period was cut short with injury.

Callum Davies has proved what a quality addition to the squad he has become this season but even he admits that, at his tender age, he is prone to mistakes. His time will come.

For now the combination at the back between Legge and Adam Barrett looks formidable.

The fantastic reception that Barrett got from the Southend fans - where he was once captain - shows what they think of him and at 33 he has plenty left in the tank.

He is a natural leader and an organiser and now Legge has come in and immediately shown everyone what he is about. In the two games, I’m not sure he’s been beaten in the air yet and he has put in some strong tackles, as well as posing a threat at set-pieces for the Gills.

And while the Gills boss has been keen to rotate his midfield and attack, he has understandably kept things solid at the back.

Keeper Nelson has played every minute of every league game and right-back Matt Fish - who would certainly be a player-of-the-year contender if the season ended now - has started every game so far. Only injury has stopped left-back Joe Martin of doing the same in the league.

It’s a defence that is second only to League 1 Swindon in having the best defensive record of the 92 English league teams - averaging 0.84 goals conceded per game.

So Lee Hughes, Tom Pope and co at Vale are going to need to be at their very best if they want to break open the Gills defence.

It will certainly be an intriguing battle, especially now that Hughes is at Vale.

There was little doubt that when he was freed from his contract at Notts County the Gills would be interested. Allen had worked with him before and a record of 66 goals in 146 games speaks for itself.

The Gills boss was in the office at 5.30am on Tuesday trying to get a deal on the table but to no avail.

Luckily for the Gills they already have some quality of their own upfront - without criminal records - and Deon Burton is showing this season what a quality signing he is.

The goal in Bristol was stunning but he doesn’t just score. For a veteran striker his work-rate is phenominal and he can often be seen helping out in defence.

So let’s not worry what Port Vale have to offer. There is quality aplenty in the Gills ranks.

Gillingham's front-line strikers have taken much of the credit for the blistering start to the season but a run of three clean sheets is testament to the work done where it was needed most.

Wins over Bristol Rovers, Southend and Port Vale have been achieved without conceding and credit must go to the way Martin Allen and his team have set up the team to defend.

Key arrivals over the summer have helped, with the likes of experienced keeper Stuart Nelson and no-nonsense defender Adam Barrett joining the Gills. The presence of Crystal Palace loan-man David Wright has also given extra assurance at the back.

And Allen has also played it safe in games after going ahead early, by introducing more defence-minded players like Andy Frampton, to ensure there are no last-minute dramas.

The Gills head into Saturday's game against Rochdale with the best defensive record in the division (conceding just a goal every other game) - a stark contrast to last season where goals flew in at both ends on a regular basis.

Fans were certainly put through it, with games against Northampton (4-3), Wimbledon (3-4), Hereford (5-4), Crewe (3-4), Accrington (3-4) and Bournemouth (3-2). Enough drama to fill a ‘how not to defend’ manual many times over.

This season the Gills have only conceded more than one goal twice, and both in cup games, against Championship Middlesbrough (0-2) and League 1 Crawley - where an understrength Gills team lost 3-2.

Only for a brief spell, against Chesterfield, have the Gills been behind in any league game. Eight minutes to be precise.

Individual performances have gone up another level, with Matt Fish now looking much more at ease on the right and Joe Martin looking steady on the other flank. The transformation of Callum Davies from a bench-warmer to a solid League 2 defender has been a great bonus. Even if it has meant his mate Connor Essam has needed to go out on loan to get games.

And it hasn't just been individuals who have made an impact.

The Gills are organised well and defend as a unit. With Allen drumming the message home from the sidelines throughout games, that message is getting through. Runners are tracked, crosses are being blocked and headers are being won.

During this week's chat with Allen he made a point of noting the improvement of Lewis Montrose. The big midfielder was sent away with instructions to improve his heading and against Vale he constantly won the ball in the air on the edge of the box, time and again alleviating pressure on the defence.

Much of the day-to-day training is taken by assistant John Schofield and his input to what we're seeing on the pitch shouldn't be underestimated. The coaching team of Schofield, Carl Muggleton and Allen is certainly one that is helping to shape the Gills into a rigid, organised team when defending and a fluid, fast-paced and exciting one going forward.

It's a joy to watch at the moment but it's not through luck, or by out-scoring the opposition, that the Gills are sitting pretty at the top of League 2.

It is often mentioned as one of the stumbling blocks to any airport being built in the Thames Estuary, and this week the SS Richard Montgomery will make a reappearance on the political agenda.

A public meeting on the wreck is being held at the St George’s Centre in Chatham Maritime on Thursday (September 27) at 7pm.

It will be chaired by historian and film maker Colin Harvey, and there will be a panel of guests who will take part in a discussion about the vessel.

Among the issues they will consider are the potential disposal of the wreck, who would pay for it and whether the US government should be approached.

We know the consequences of the ship’s thousands of pounds of munitions exploding would be catastrophic, but the meeting might reveal some new information.

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Cuts in funding from government put the council in a very difficult position when it comes to balancing the books.

A report this week lays out one of the hard choices the administration might have to make in the near future.

A rise in council tax of 4% in 2013/14 needs to be given “serious consideration” according to a report for a business committee meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).

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Call off the search party.

Rehman Chishti has proven notoriously hard to get hold of in my time at the paper, but it appears his media operation is being ramped up.

Barry Watts, who used to be the political assistant to the council’s Conservative group, is now working for the Gillingham and Rainham MP.

And since that change my inbox has been bombarded with press releases keeping me fully abreast of what Reh’s getting up to.

I’m half expecting a release about what he’s had for breakfast to come through next.

Those that witnessed Myles Weston’s opening performances for the Gills will be forgiven for getting a bit excited.

Not since the days of Matt Jarvis have the Gills had a winger to make full-backs quake in their boots.

He may not be Jarvis class, but Myles Arthur Euguene Wesley Weston – his full name according to Wikipedia - certainly proved too hot to handle for Wycombe in the opening periods of Tuesday night’s game and that pace is something that has been badly lacking at Gills in recent seasons.

On Tuesday they were able to use Weston as predatory attacker in the first half and then, when up against it with ten men, the Gills were able to feed him the ball and let him do what he liked as an outlet to give the rest of the team some much needed recovery time.

Gills, under Martin Allen, are set up with just three midfielders and someone sat infront of the Back four (Jack Payne on Tuesday). It means the full-backs are required to get forward as often as possible, which does tend to suggest a winger is not required.

But Weston has shown versatility already. His favoured position is on the left flank, where he made an impressive substitute showing at the weekend, but on Tuesday he went upfront with Danny Kedwell and appears to have been given license to roam.

He is fast and direct and it is just a shame his early run down the flank on Tuesday, where he jumped two sliding tackles and even got the home fans off their seats, wasn’t rewarded with a goal. A fine save denied him a really special moment.

But no doubt we will eventually see a run and finish, assuming Weston can maintain that quality, and there is no reason he can’t. He is young, he has dropped down a level and he just wants to play games and express himself. Allen seems set to give him that opportunity.

Consistency, like all lower division players, will be his biggest obstacle.

Another to have impressed since signing has been Charlie Allen. He will be facing doubters after being signed by his father but young Charlie is proving what a class player he is. And again, it is his pace from midfield which is unsettling opponents. He also has an eye for a pass, like the one he served up for Danny Kedwell to open the scoring on Saturday.

It is early days for both Weston and Allen but both, so far, have given the Gills so much more energy and certainly made them more entertaining to watch.

As Gillingham schoolboy Ryan Bertrand walked off the pitch at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League Final last month, a chant began to rise from the massed ranks of Chelsea fans to his right.

“One Ryan Bertrand, there’s only one Ryan Betrand.”

The Gills youth team product and Robert Napier pupil could probably hardly believe what he was hearing. From my vantage point high in the upper tier I did a slight double take as well.

Just a year ago he was kicking his heels in the Blues’ Reserve team having been out on loan to a number of Football League clubs to build up experience.

How things change.

What was remarkable about his performance against Bayern Munich is that he didn’t look out of place. It was his debut in the competition, and the pressure on him would’ve been immense.

He was an assured presence on the left flank, diligently helping left-back Ashley Cole shackle Bayern’s attacking triumvirate.

Many watching back here in Medway would have been intensely proud.

There are the teachers at Robert Napier, in Third Avenue, who first came across his talent as a fresh-faced schoolboy. 

Then there are those at Gillingham, where Bertrand spent four years before being spotted by Chelsea during an under-16s game at Chatham Town Football Club in 2005.

Seeing one of their own play so well in the biggest game in European club football is a great advertisement for the club.  "If you work hard, this is what you can achieve" will be the message being passed on to the current crop of Academy players.

There is also a financial interest for the club. The more games Bertrand plays for Chelsea, the more money they get. The final total could be more than half a million.

The initial compensation when he moved in 2005 was £125,000, and the club received £50,000 when Bertrand made his first team debut in April 2011.

Installments of £100,000 are due for every 10 appearances up to and including his 40th. The final in Munich was Bertrand’s 16th game for Chelsea.

Now we wait to see how far he can go. From what I've seen he has all the attributes to carve out a successful career.

Next season will be key. Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo had faith in Bertrand and gave him chances to shine, will the new manager do the same?

Bertrand is learning from one of the best in the business in the shape of Ashley Cole, and if things work out he could very well replace him as first choice for club and country.

Many in Medway will certainly be hoping he does.

Today could prove to be a significant day in the history of Gillingham Football Club.

This evening in Meeting Room Two at Gun Wharf, councillors on the planning committee will decide whether to grant outline permission to grand plans for Chatham Docks. The recommendation from officers is to give it the green light, albeit with a raft of conditions attached.

The blueprint includes flats, shops, hotels, conference facilities and university accommodation.

In essence, it will create a new quarter on the banks of the River Medway, linking up with the burgeoning developments of Victory Pier and Liberty Quays further down Pier Road.

Chairman Paul Scally claims the project would “almost certainly” spell the end of the club’s presence in Medway, as it's the best site for a new stadium. 

Plans to move from Priestfield have taken various guises over the last decade or so - including plans for a 20,000 capacity stadium at Temple Marshes in Strood, which was abandoned eight years ago.

Back then Mr Scally also claimed the club would have to move out of the Towns.

The only other alternative to Chatham Docks – land known as Mill Hill, off Yokosuka Way, Gillingham – would be unworkable. This is because it would need a supermarket to finance, and Peel’s plans for the docks include an Asda. 

Two so close together wouldn’t work, Mr Scally claims. 

He made the claims in a letter to all 55 of the Towns’ councillors in March, and since then we’ve been waiting to see what effect it would have on the progress of the Chatham Docks plans.

Just 19 people wrote to the council raising their concerns about its effect on the club, although Mr Scally disputes that figure.

The report for the proposal comprises the bulk of the agenda for tonight’s meeting, and anyone reading it is left in no doubt of the scale of the development. 

It addresses a number of the issues that have been raised by the Gills, and throws up a potential lifeline.

The report states "significant work" has been undertaken to see if a stadium could be built on Chatham Docks, but the idea hasn’t been taken any further because of "viability reasons".

But, two supermarkets could be workable, it argues, given the fact that the Asda wouldn’t cause problems for other proposed supermarkets or sites across the Towns identified as being suitable for supermarkets.

The council can’t turn down the Chatham Docks plan because there’s no development at Mill Hill to consider. 

The onus is on the club to force the issue, although there has been plenty of opposition locally to the Mill Hill plan, including from one of the landowners on the 40 acre site.

Critics also make the point that Gillingham can’t sell out their current stadium as it is, so why on earth do they need a new one?

The paltry attendances last season were not that surprising given the club was playing in League Two.

There will always be a hardcore of fans that go no matter what division the club is playing in, but some will be more fair weather. It’s the same at clubs across the country. If there’s discontent among the fans about performances on the pitch, some will stay away.

If the club was playing in the Championship attendances would go up, and you can argue this is almost like a chicken and egg situation. A new stadium could generate investment which would have the knock on effect of improving the club’s finances and therefore the money it has to spend on players.

Mr Scally would point to clubs like Brighton, Hull and Swansea, who have experienced an upturn in fortunes on the back of new stadia.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s meeting, there are a few more column inches yet to be written about this saga.

It’s your move Mr Scally.

The Gills stadium saga could come to a head this week, with the Planning Committee set to grant outline permission to Peel's plans for Chatham Docks.

If that's the case, expect there to be plenty of fallout from this, given the rhetoric that has led up to this point. Gillingham chairman Paul Scally claims this could very well be the end of the club's presence in the Towns.

Chatham Docks is the ideal site for a new stadium and the only other alternative – a site at Mill Hill, off Yokosuka Way - wouldn't work alongside Peel's project, he claims.

However, planning officers have poured some cold water on that.

A stadium at Chatham Docks wasn’t pursued because of "viability reasons" and in a potential lifeline for the club, their report states a supermarket at the Docks wouldn’t necessarily render the Mill Hill dream a dud.

So there’s plenty for the club and the council to chew over.

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The Towns' MPs had the chance to discuss the Thames Estuary airport with PM David Cameron last Thursday (May 24) but afterwards they didn't seem willing to talk about it.

Mark Reckless' office informed me he wouldn't be doing interviews and calls to Tracey Crouch and Rehman Chishti's office were not returned.

Why? Mr Cameron might not have been able to say anything revelatory, but to not even have a flavour of what was said – "we put our arguments across forcefully", "the discussions were firm and frank", that sort of thing - will lead people to ask questions.

Was the consultation date revealed? Did they not like what they heard?

As ever when it comes to the airport, the people of Medway are left with more questions than answers.

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The controversy over primary school places will crop up again on Thursday, when councillors discuss building a new academy/free school on the site of Chatham South School.

We've known for a while that a new school would be needed in Chatham, but now we know where.

The plan is to have it open by September 2014.