GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler is confident the club will have at least one new signing before the start of next season.

Hessenthaler gave chairman Paul Scally a list of 20 potential new players before leaving for a two-week holiday to America earlier this week.

And he believes headway will be made on bringing new faces to the squad while he is away. “We have already made good progress,” he told the club's official website www.gillinghamfootballclub.com

“I am not getting drawn into naming names, but I can say we have had some productive talks with a couple of players. Everyone knows we need a quick replacement for Marlon and his situation has forced us to focus our minds on the overall situation.

“There are some talented players available at the moment and I am really excited at the prospect that one or two of them might join us." Hessenthaler said it was a case of agreeing terms with players and their agents, which was not always easy.

But he said he was optimistic about the prospect of seeing a couple of new players at the club.

“The chairman is working very hard at finding the money to finance the deals," he said. “Our relationship works well, in that I just concentrate on the playing side and he is responsible for the finance.”

Bolton strikers Dean Holdsworth and Rod Wallace were at Priestfield for talks last week. Brentford's Lloyd Owusu, who also interests Oldham, is reported to have met with Gills officials.

Leyton Orient left back Matt Lockwood is also thought to be on the wanted-list.