Andy Hessenthaler with his seven new faces Picture: Simon Hildrew

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler knows he needs to repay chairman Paul Scally after his backing in the transfer market this summer.

Mr Scally (pictured below) has invested in seven new signings with Charlie Lee becoming the most recent to join the League 2 promotion hopefuls on Monday.

Lee moved for an undisclosed fee from Peterborough United, as did Chris Whelpdale last week, while striker Danny Kedwell also arrived for what is understood to be a six-figure sum.

With that investment and more likely to follow, Hessenthaler knows he
needs to deliver now on the pitch.

"The chairman has backed me from day one," said the Gills manager, who takes his side to Bromley tomorrow (Saturday) for their second pre-season outing.

"He has worked hard and it’s funny when you hear people say myself and the chairman are quite lazy and we weren’t doing much.

"Since the day after the last game, we haven’t stopped working.

"I had my family holiday and met the chairman in Dubai. We had a good day and a bit in his office working, so it wasn’t all fun and sunbathing.

"We were working hard to make some of these deals happen and they have come to fruition now. I am excited and all credit goes to the chairman.

"The chairman is a grafter and he has been in this business a long time. He is shrewd and knows what he is doing.

"I would never question him because he has brought me to the club and I owe him a lot. I have to repay him this year.

"He has brought the players to the club and it’s my job now to get it right on the pitch."