Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler expects to hear back from the five out-of-contract players this week and has warned them there is no room for negotiation.

Hessenthaler wants to move quickly in the transfer market and needs answers from the quintet of players sooner rather than later.

The five players who Hessenthaler wants to keep are Kevin Maher, Andy Barcham, Adebayo Akinfenwa (pictured), Joe Martin and Chris Palmer.

Hessenthaler said: "The players know that there is no room for negotiation. That’s the deal, that’s what it is and if it’s not on then we move on.

"It may sound ruthless but that’s what it has to be.

"I said to them I need an early decision. We will give them until the early part of (this) week and we will go on from there."

Hessenthaler concedes that other teams are likely to be speaking to the players concerned but doubts they will be able to get better offers elsewhere, even considering the Gills are offering less attractive packages for the coming season.

"They might not sign," he said. "They might be able to get more elsewhere but I would be surprised if they can because reality has hit home to most clubs."

Hessenthaler will be working with a lower budget this time around but isn’t concerned.

"You can see by the amount of players getting released from clubs that it’s all about budgets and we are no different," he said.

"It’s hit home a little bit and it’s a reality check for everybody. Times are not easy but myself and the chairman have had a good chat.

"We have to go out and get the right players, hungry players, a collective bunch of players who will work hard for each other."

With some teams achieving more on less money than the Gills last season in League 2, Hessenthaler knows the right players are out there.

"It’s the job I’ve got to do," he said. "You only have to look at Accrington and where they’ve ended up on their budget. The players are out there but we won’t be trapped into big salaries, we just can’t do that.

"We are not going to fall into the trap of big wages at this football club, we just can’t do it anymore."

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