GILLINGHAM players Chris Hope, Mark Saunders, Ian Cox and Danny Spiller will start the new league season with disciplinary clean-sheets despite being cautioned in Friday's 3-1 defeat by Lille.

Fears that the penalty points incurred would count against them at the start of the English league season have been dismissed by UEFA director Barry Bright.

Speaking from Finland, where he is on UEFA business, Mr Bright, who is also chairman of the Kent County FA and an FA director, confirmed: “Those cautions will not be carried over into the English season. But the number is surprisingly high bearing in mind this was a friendly. English teams playing overseas pre-season friendlies normally reach an agreement with the opposition before the game regarding cautions.”