Manager Mark Stimson is happy Gillingham operate with a playing budget that is within their means.

Saturday's trip to cash-strapped Stockport, who are in administration, was a stark reminder of the perils of overspending.

Stimson was relieved he was able to work within a stable environment – albeit a tightly budgeted one.

"That’s why our budget is what it is," he said. "We haven’t sent out any false pretence and signed players we can’t afford.

"We are playing with a budget that the club can afford and that budget is down with the other teams at the bottom end of the table. We are not punching above our means.

"The club is run sensibly and that’s the only way you can do it, otherwise you offer a player a contract and you can’t afford to pay them, then unfortunately you go into administration and it does cause a lot of stress.

"As a manager it’s important for me to know that we are not punching above our means.

"There are a lot of teams in trouble. We as a playing group just want to make sure we stay in this division. It’s a fantastic league."