Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler insists he can deal with the pressure after his side slipped to a fifth successive League 2 defeat.

The Gills now look to be chasing the final play-off spot in the table, along with up to eight other clubs, and the pressure to get results is building.

But Hessenthaler believes he has the backing from those that matter, the club board and chairman Paul Scally, and he is remaining upbeat after a spirited effort at Port Vale on Saturday.

Hessenthaler said: "Of course I am under pressure but that doesn’t worry me, I’m not that kind of person. Most managers will tell you that you go into the job knowing that one day you will get the sack.

"There are some top managers in the world who have been sacked. There is no shame in that but I am not thinking about that, I’m looking to the next game.

"I had a text from the chairman (after Saturday’s game). He is behind us and he will be behind us to the end if we keep showing that desire, commitment and effort."

Gillingham started the season chasing the automatic promotion places but now sit 17 points off the top three and six away from the play-offs, with 17 games remaining.

Despite the team’s under-performance, Hessenthaler believes he has the chairman’s backing.

Hessenthaler said: "I will always have the backing from the chairman because we have a relationship. He knows that I put in hours beyond a lot of people to be successful because it’s what I do, it’s how hungry I am and how passionate I am about the football club."