Exclusive by Luke Cawdell

Paul Scally has dismissed talk of Gillingham playing second fiddle to League 2’s big spenders after insisting the club's budget for next season is up there with the best.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler has already admitted that he has less funds than last season but Mr Scally, pictured, is sure the budget is big enough.

"We have probably one of the highest budgets in the division and so there are no excuses for not going up next season, not budget cuts, not anything else," said Mr Scally.

"I wouldn’t be at the club if I didn’t think we could get promoted."

The Gills have lost out on Adebayo Akinfenwa during the close season after Northampton shelled out for his services and Chris Palmer and Kevin Maher are still to decide whether their new contracts are acceptable. So far only Joe Martin has agreed to stay.

Mr Scally isn’t sitting around waiting for answers and said: "They haven’t come back to us so it’s up to them really. We are not waiting. The deadline (for them) is the start of the season, on August 6."

See Friday's Medway Messenger for the full story.

Do you agree with Paul Scally that Gills have the budget to win promotion next season? Have your say in our comments section below.