A chance to work with Martin Allen again was a move too good to turn down for Deon Burton.

The striker was a team-mate of Allen’s at Portsmouth and played under him at Brentford as the London side narrowly missed out on promotion.

Burton is now back alongside Allen again after signing a one year deal at Gillingham.

He said: “Portsmouth was many years ago but he’s the same character, the same guy and he always has given 100% and has wanted to win.

“He has not changed in his management career either and I am looking forward to working with him again.”

Burton’s career started at Portsmouth and his time there ended with a £1m move to Derby County and a chance to play in the Premier League.

It was in the 2004/05 season where Burton reacquainted himself with Allen again, at League 1 Brentford.

In a team that included Gills club captain Andy Frampton and newly arrived keeper Stuart Nelson, the Bees reached the play-offs, where they lost over a two-legged semi-final to Sheffield Wednesday.

Burton has played for a number of clubs since then and returned to England in the summer after two years playing for Azerbaijan Premier League outfit Gabala, where he has been signed by former Arsenal player Tony Adams.

He said: “It was a good opportunity for me (at Gabala) and when it came about there weren’t too many offers on the table. It was as good a time as any to go abroad and experience it and Tony Adams sold the club to me well.

“It was a good two years, a good experience and I met some good friends.

“We finished just outside of a European place in the second year. The standard I would say is about League 1 over here so it is what I am used to and it was an enjoyable time.”

Burton, now 35, declined the opportunity to stay with MK Dons, after training with them over the last few weeks, opting instead for a move to Priestfield.

“This is a good club, with good ambitions and obviously I know the manager very well and I know some of the players,” Burton said.

“It wasn’t a tough decision. I did a full pre-season with MK Dons from day one and so I am ready to go, 100%, and I can’t wait.

“They (MK Dons) offered me a contract but I didn’t think it was what I wanted or what I felt I deserved so nothing materialised there. There were a couple of teams that showed interest, not that many, but I know Martin Allen and I knew he had been after me for a few weeks and in the end we got it done.”

With his own future sorted Burton knows plenty of good players will be starting the new season without a club.

He said: “I know lots of my friends who are still without a club at the moment, with just a few days to go until he start of the season. It is real dog-eat-dog out there and it is quite tough.”

*Read more from Deon Burton in next week’s Medway Messenger newspaper, as well as interviews from Paul Scally, Adam Birchall, Charlie Allen, Stuart Nelson Danny Jackman and more as we build up to the big kick-off.