What’s the secret to getting the best out of Ronan Hale? The man himself has the answer
Gillingham’s mid-season striker signing has shown glimpses of genuine talent, and his final interview of the campaign hinted at how he thinks we can get him firing at his best.
Ronan Hale hasn’t been with Gillingham long, but by the end of the campaign the Northern Irish striker was cutting a pretty frustrated figure at times as the Gills’ season petered out.
Hale was signed from Ross County, for a sizeable fee, during the January transfer window, and it didn’t take long for fans to see that the club had finally managed to bring a natural goalscorer to Priestfield. However, it quickly became apparent that, while the team had a legitimate finisher up front, the other major problem was the lack of service provided to the team’s front men.
It meant that Hale spent much of the second half of the season chasing lost causes, feeding off scraps, and finding himself largely underfed and isolated. But with the mass changes that appear to be heading Gillingham’s way in the summer, Hale chose to be positive when chatting to the press ahead of the final game of the season against Shrewsbury Town.
“It was a bit hit and miss, obviously,” he said.
“I’ve came here to score goals, and I feel that I could have scored a few more. Other than that, it’s (a move) that I’ve adapted well to, and I’m looking forward to a fresh start next season.”
Hale said he’s happy to play in any system boss Gareth Ainsworth wants to play, but when talking about his all-too-brief strike partnership with the now-retired Sam Vokes, the enthusiasm for playing with a strike partner was pretty evident.
“We had a great connection, and it would have been great to have a bit more time with him,” he admitted, before he was asked directly whether having a big man as a strike partner was his preference. His answer was pretty clear.
“Yeah, I think we said it before, the wee man and the big man combination,” he said.
“And, to be fair, when we’ve played together, it’s worked. I’ve scored a couple of goals playing alongside him, so, as I say, I wish I had a few more games with him under my belt, but it’s good to play with a player like him.”
It suggests that Hale – who has been played all across the forward line since joining the Gills – feels he’d be most effective played through the middle, partnered by a big target man who he can play off.
It’s something that fits the Ainsworth template. The Gillingham boss is known for his own preference for having a big, strong forward up top. But with Vokes very much at the end of his career, and Josh Andrews not reaching the levels required of a League 2 starter, the chance for Hale to build a strong, consistent strike partnership just wasn’t there in 2025-26.
That could well change next season, with a major squad overhaul expected. The retained list hasn’t been published yet, but it’s understood the players already know who’s staying and who’s leaving.
One of those who’s definitely staying is Hale, and he’s determined to feature on the scoresheet much more regularly
“As a striker, I just want to be scoring goals,” he said.
“So I’ll set my targets for next year, and hopefully see what comes of it.”