SKIPPER Paul Smith admits Gills player-boss Andy Hessenthaler has a difficult decision to make concerning his playing future.

Speculation has been rife that Hessenthaler, who is 38 in June, will hang up his boots in the summer but after missing just a handful of games all season, Smith believes he could carry on playing.

Smith said: "He still loves the game and his enthusiasm rubs off on others. It will be a tough decision and I'm sure he'll make the right one.

"If he was contemplating quitting playing, my advice would be to stay registered as a player.

"If he wants to take a back seat and concentrate on management then do that but he's still fit and if we are ever down to the bare bones he could still play for us."

With Gills on course to finish in the top half of the Division 1 table for the second successive season, Hessenthaler has received rave reviews.

Smith added: "There have always been rumours of him being linked with other jobs but as long as you are a player-manager you are not going to get a big job opportunity because you are still a player and they might be worried about you not wanting to give it up.

"We've done well with him as a player-manager. But there will be less stress on him when he's just a manager, so who knows what we could achieve then?"

One player keen to continue playing under Hessenthaler's management is defender Roland Edge.

The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season but, despite being linked with clubs like Portsmouth and Leicester City, he's happy at Priestfield.

He said: "I just want to stay fit and play football. I'm happy at Gillingham and hopefully I will stay."

*GILLS striker Marlon King could be out for another seven months after surgery to repair his severed anterior-cruciate ligament.

King fell awkwardly against Derby on January 11 and had surgery to correct the problem this week.

Kevin James is also recovering from surgery to repair cartilage damaged during Gills’ defeat at Reading in February. He is expected to be back in training in four weeks.

Both operations are said to have gone well and both players are expected back at the club next week to start their rehabilitation programmes.

Gills are without a game this weekend and return to action when they entertain Wimbledon on Tuesday night.