Andy Hessenthaler admits he is desperate for Gillingham to be promoted back into League 1.

In the past two seasons, Hessenthaler guided the team to the fringes of the League 2 play-offs but the chance to make it third time lucky was taken away from him when chairman Paul Scally asked him to stand down as manager.

His first job as new director of football was to help choose Martin Allen as his successor at Priestfield and, with the playing budget boosted by the sale of keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, Luke Rooney and the £1.5million sell-on fee from Matt Jarvis, Gills have taken League 2 by storm.

Money doesn’t buy success but it has clearly helped.

Hessenthaler (pictured) said: “I’m not envious because I’m working for the football club and want this club to be successful.

“I am part of this and am desperate, along with the fans, to get promotion. When the chairman and myself did the interview process, we had the basis of a good squad and we just needed to add to it, which we have done, and we have reaped the rewards.”

Full story in Monday's Medway Messenger