GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally says he is determined to take the club forward - with or without manager Stan Ternent.

The future of Ternent should be decided in the next few days, with Mr Scally saying he and the manager would meet for talks over the next few days.

Initially, it was hoped that a new deal could be sorted out over a bottle of champagne but Gillingham’s failure to win at Nottingham Forest meant talks were posponed.

Ternent said after the 2-2 draw at the City Ground that he would wait and see what money would be on offer before he committed to the job.

With 12 players out of contract – including Paul Smith, Ian Cox and Mamady Sidibe – Ternent will want to know who he can afford to keep and how much is available for new signings. But Mr Scally said he is still confident the club can go forward even if Ternent chooses not to sign.

He said: “I’m meeting Stan at the weekend and after that meeting we’ll know whether he wants to stay and if we can afford to keep him.

“If that’s the case, we’ll move on with him. If not, we’ll find someone else. Stan’s going to have a few days off to sort his head out,” added Mr Scally. “Once we’ve had that discussion, depending what’s in the budget, Stan will make a decision.

“I hope very much that he does stay but it might be financially driven and I don’t know what’s in the budget until I look at it.”

But he said whatever happened regarding contracts over the coming days and weeks, he was still driven to take Gillingham forward.

He told the club’s official website www.gillinghamfootballclub.co.uk: “Nobody is more committed than I am personally and nobody has more to lose financially by the relegation we have suffered. I am attempting to take a positive view on the business, however, and we must go forward to a better tomorrow.

“It is essential that we remain focused and continue striving to take the club forward. While relegation is a setback, we must remain focused on taking the club forward.

“We’re a big club where character and spirt’s concerned and we’ve got some big supporters. We’ve got to push on. We’ll address the issue and come back from this stronger and financially more secure and better placed.”

One player who probably won’t be with the Gills in League 1 next season is Nicky Southall, who said this week he wasn’t expecting to be offered a deal. The 33-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move to join up with former manager Peter Taylor at newly-promoted Hull City.