Gillingham's hopes of bringing in additional firepower look slim with chairman Paul Scally admitting the transfer budget is already in the red.

Mr Scally (pictured) insists the club will have to off-load existing contracted players before they are able to bring in anyone of any stature.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler this week missed out on striker Lloyd Owusu, who opted to sign for non-league Luton instead of trying his luck with a trial at Gillingham.

And it could have been a fruitless trial for Owusu if he had come to the Gills, with Mr Scally’s frank assessment of their ability to sign more players.

"There is minus nil in the transfer budget," he said.

"We’ve over-spent because of the injuries we’ve had this year. We are always trying and we’ll always try and do things and that never changes, whether we’ve got no money or some money.

"But we are not going to put the future of the club on the line for one or two new players, that’s for sure.

"We’ve got a good, balanced squad at the minute. Unless we need to bring anyone else in, we won’t."