GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has sent his clearest message yet that he cannot afford to trim his squad.

With chairman Paul Scally seeking a cut in costs of 40 per cent to compensate for the loss of 40 per cent in income following the collapse of ITV Digital, the Gills boss has been forced to juggle figures without benefit of a budget.

Hessenthaler spelt out his dilemma when he said: “We have three players who are out of contract - Mark Saunders, Marcus Browning and Iffy Onuora - and I would like to keep them all.

“Whether I can depends on finances, both from the chairman and what agents are asking. If we do lose them, we have to replace them because we can't afford to trim the squad.

“If we can't add to the squad, we must keep the players we have. We will see how things unfold, but it will be a difficult summer.”

He added: “I don't think we can afford to lose Iffy in particular, so that's very important. Ideally I would like to go away on holiday in two weeks’ time with everything sorted out.”

Hessenthaler also confessed that he was unaware how unsettled transfer-listed Chris Hope had become. “I've got to be honest, it came out of the blue,” he admitted. “I didn't realise Chris was so unsettled and to be fair to the lad it hasn't shown in his performances.”

Hessenthaler reiterated the fact that Hope's transfer request was not linked to the chairman's decision to fine and discipline him for attending the Gills Independent Supporters’ Club annual awards. “I need to know what he's thinking because if he doesn't want to stay then we have to move quickly to replace him.”