CHRIS HOPE has pledged his immediate future to Gillingham, ending speculation that he was ready to quit the club.

The 28-year-old centre-back, who has not missed a match since his £260,000 move from Scunthorpe in July 2000, had become unsettled after being fined and disciplined by chairman Paul Scally for attending the Gills Independent Supporters' Club Player of the Year awards function in April.

Hope, who finished runner-up to skipper Paul Smith, was accompanied to the event by his wife, Lisa, and two young sons. Since then speculation has persisted that he was ready to go and there was talk of the family wanting to return North to be nearer a sick relative.

But Hope set the record straight before taking a break back in the North East with his family. He has told friends: "I'm not on the transfer list and I intend seeing out the remainder of my contract which has another two years to run at Gillingham.

"I don't want to leave the club and I'm looking forward to seeing all the lads again when we report back for pre-season training.

"I want to put the problems of the last month behind me and get on with playing football. I have been repeatedly asked by supporters what I'm doing so I hope this clears up everything."

Smith, who like Hope, believes the incident was blown out of all proportion, will decide on his future when he returns for pre-season training. He is hoping that Iffy Onuora, Marcus Browning and Mark Saunders re-sign and that the club make a couple of new signings.