Mark Robson with Gillingham boss Mark Stimson, left, and assistant boss Scott Barrett, right

by Luke Cawdell

Mark Robson is on the verge of sealing a two-year deal with Gillingham and manager Mark Stimson was looking forward to another season working with his backroom staff.

First-team coach Robson was an integral part of the coaching set-up last season alongside Stimson, assistant manager Scott Barrett and fitness coach Danny Ellis.

Robson and Stimson are long-term friends and the Gills boss believes he has a package now behind the scenes that can help drive the club forward.

"His deal is nearly done," said Stimson. "We are close and it’s just a matter of sitting down and thrashing out the last bit. We’re just working now as normal anyway.

"He likes to play the game the same as I do and I’ve got a great backroom with Danny Ellis and Scott Barrett – it was really pleasing to be able to add Mark to it.

"Mark, Dan and Scott are all thinking along the same lines and make a good team. For the players Danny is probably a nightmare figure but the players realise what he does for them and people shouldn’t like the fitness man anyway."

Stimson has worked with Barrett and Ellis at his previous clubs but Robson only joined the group at the start of last season after he left Charlton.

"I was already looking for a coach and when he had his bad news and had to leave Charlton it was perfect for us," said Stimson.

"It was important to have someone else as at the start of the season as there were some players who weren’t up to the standard and we could have spent too much time helping them improve and neglecting the rest."

Robson’s contract is likely to be formalised this week.

"It’s already 99.9 per cent sorted and hopefully we can get something typed up," said Stimson.