Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is facing intense off-field competition as he attempts to convince players to join his League 1 chargers.

Stimson is currently in negotiations with a number of players, including three trialists, but faces competition from other teams in their division for those signatures.

The Gills boss is turning up the heat as he seeks closure on a number of deals including a striker and a defender from League 1 clubs as well as trying to negotiate a loan deal for in-demand left-back Jordan Parkes (pictured left).

"To compete we need to improve," said Stimson. "We have done that so far with Kevin Maher and to re-sign Andy Barcham was fantastic. We are just trying to add one or two to that."

Stimson has a hit-list of strikers he is trying to lure to the club and while an offer has already been lodged for Dagenham’s Paul Benson, he is still waiting on an answer from a League 1 club for a forward whom he described as his "number 1 target".

"We’ve heard nothing from the club," said Stimson.

"I’m going to try and get an answer one way or another because if it’s a no we might have to look elsewhere.

"We’ll pester them and see if we can do something.

"This one is my number 1 target. It’s just unfortunate at the moment that nothing can be done. We’ll wait and see and it’s certainly worth the wait."

Stimson is expected, however, to conclude agreements for right-back Sam Long and midfielder Rashid Yussuff this week.

*Striker Simeon Jackson is expected to link up with the Gillingham squad in time for their pre-season trip to France following Canada's exit from the Gold Cup. Canada lost 1-0 to Honduras on Saturday in the quarter-finals.