Gillingham chairman Paul Scally believes the club’s cautious approach to contract negotiations leaves them well-positioned.

Only one of the club’s summer signings has been put on contract for more than a year with the Gills looking for immediate gains on the pitch.

"We have a one-year issue and that issue is to get out of this division, and that’s all that matters," said Mr Scally (pictured). "What happens next season is a different scenario."

Star summer signing Adebayo Akinfenwa was the latest player to sign up on a season-long contract and the chairman concedes there is a risk, but it’s one they are prepared to take.

"We don’t necessarily want to give players long-term contracts, they have to earn them," he said. "That’s the philosophy and I think that’s right.

"There is the danger that if they do very well then we could lose them. We’ll monitor them throughout the season and we can always extend contracts."

Danny Spiller is on the shortest contract, at just five months, while Lance Cronin and Tony Sinclair have joined for a season, knowing that if they impress the club have the option to extend it to a second.

Andrew White is also on a one-year deal, while Stefan Payne was the lucky exception and signed a two-year contract.

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