Mark Stimson applauds the Gills fans at Wembley and quickly turned his attentions to next season Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Graham Jones

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson wasted no time in looking ahead to next season after seeing the club promoted back to League 1.

Simeon Jackson’s last minute winner gave the Gills a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury in the League 2 play-off final at Wembley on Saturday and Stimson was contemplating how he would need to improve the squad straight after the game.

Talks with existing players are taking place this week and the Gills boss will be speaking to a midfielder he hopes to bring in.

He said: “We are having pre-arranged meetings with the players we thought would good enough whether were going to be in League 1 or League 2.

“We have to improve the squad and add competition to the starting eleven to try to become a good League 1 side, which will be difficult because there are some big clubs in there.”

“If we have got any money to spend, I am sure the chairman will let me know in a week or two.

“I am not expecting any cash to go and buy someone, but there are a lot of players on free transfers available so we will probably take that route.

“If he did come up with a sum of money we would spend it in the right way like we did with Simeon Jackson, Garry Richards, Stuart Lewis, Barry Fuller and John Nutter.

“They’ve not cost fortunes, but they have got the club back to where they were when I took over and that was important to do.”

Stimson said stepping up a level would be a big boost for the club financially with games against the likes of Leeds as well as relegated Championship sides Charlton, Norwich and Southampton to look forward to.

He said: “If you look at League 1 next year there are the local teams, as well as the gates you can hopefully attract with some of the bigger northern teams such as Leeds coming down.

“We could get near 8-10,000 so it will be a fantastic. We’ll be trying to get as many of those 30,000 at Wembley back to Priestfield to cheer the team on and be proud to supporting their local team.”

Don't miss the 16-page Wembley souvenir special supplement in Monday's Medway Messenger