GILLINGHAM are gearing up for a return to the Championship this coming season, according to their chairman Paul Scally.

After a roller-coaster campaign in League 1 last season, Mr Scally has high expectations this time around and is delighted with the way manager Ronnie Jepson is putting together his side.

He said: "We’ve got a very exciting new manager with a new team. I can assure you it will be a different team from the last three or four years."

Meanwhile, Gillingham return to Le Touquet in northern France next month to play a pre-season friendly against a United Arab Emirates XI on July 18 (kick-off 6pm local time).

Gills made their first visit to the town in 2003 to play French club Lens at their training ground.

See Friday's Medway Messenger for the full story.