Andy Frampton is looking to raise the respect levels in the Gillingham squad after taking over as captain.

The no-nonsense defender (pictured) was given the captain’s armband by boss Andy Hessenthaler last week and Frampton aims to lead by example.

Frampton, 31, said: "It’s a fantastic feeling and a real honour to come in and captain this team. Hopefully I will put my experience into them and it will work for the good.

"You need a certain amount of respect at the club and a lot of it goes out of the window. When I started it was always there and it’s not necessarily there now.

"Hopefully the lads will get on board with it because I think it is important and everyone needs to be in it together. We all want the same result come the end of the season."

Frampton, who comes from west Kent, has had brief stints as captain at Brentford and Millwall but takes on full-time duties for the first time in his professional career.

"I won’t really change my game," he said. "I have always played the same throughout my career. I talk a lot and try to organise things. Hopefully that will help the lads concentrate on their game and I can do the organising side of it.

"You have to get on and play your own game and hopefully help some of the other lads out if they are in difficulty and (can) use my experience."

He has another experienced campaigner, Matt Lawrence, playing alongside him in defence and also taking on the duty as club captain.

"It’s a great help having Matt there with his experience," Frampton said. "He has had a year at the club and his experience speaks for itself.

"We will hopefully be a good team but it’s not just about Matt and myself. It’s about the players in the squad and in the changing room.

"We all want to pull in the right direction and bring the right results."

Frampton, who was a popular figure at his previous clubs thanks to his committed displays, has settled in quickly to life at Priestfield after spending the last four years with Millwall.

"I have had a fantastic time so far; it’s a great club. It’s a club that should be playing higher and that’s what we will aim to do," he said.

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