Manager Andy Hessenthaler admitted he was surprised to be handing Kevin Maher the chance to extend his stay with Gillingham.

Maher turned from an unwanted player under previous manager Mark Stimson to a key figure in Hessenthaler’s team, with 38 appearances to his name last season.

Hessenthaler said: "I was honest with him in the meeting we had and I said, ‘hand on heart Kevin, when I took over at the start of the season I didn’t see myself offering you a deal at the end of the season’.

"But we have offered him one because he has proved to people what he is about.

"I was delighted with him. We have made him an offer – probably not the offer Kevin was looking for but it’s an offer.

"Kevin is a realistic person and he understands he is at the latter part of his career and we are waiting for him to let us know.

"I would love him to stay and since the turn of the year he has been one of our best players."

The 34-year-old has now made 76 appearances for the Gills and is one of five players the club are waiting to hear from after offering new terms last Wednesday.

Picture: Barry Goodwin

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