CONTRARY to popular opinion, former Gillingham boss Tony Pulis does not relish his pivotal role in deciding who swims and who sinks in Sunday's Nationwide League, Division 1 relegation decider.

Common concensus strongly suggests that Stoke City's manager would revel in the prospect of plunging the club he left amid such acrimony in June, 1999 into Division 2.

The former Gills boss is, however, at pains to point out that he is not vindictive and is filled with mixed emotions over Sunday's showdown.

Should Gillingham's four-year stay in Division 1 end at the Britannia Stadium, then Pulis would be a reluctant relegator.

When Gillingham triumphantly marched out of Wembley in May 2000 having clinched an historic promotion to Division 1, Peter Taylor may have been in charge that day but most of the team had been assembled by Pulis.

Six of his old boys, player-manager Andy Hessenthaler, skipper Paul Smith, Barry Ashby, Mark Saunders, Nicky Southall and Nyron Nosworthy, are still with the club.

Hessenthaler, Ashby, Saunders and Southall are all likely to be in Sunday's squad.

Of one thing Pulis is certain. "It would break my heart to see Gillingham go down," he said. "Because I am employed by Stoke City then my allegiance must be with them. But during my four years at Priestfield I made many friends who are still my friends today.

"I know they will be broken-hearted if Gillingham drop into Division 2. I just wish that Gillingham were safe and that we were playing an end-of-season match that had nothing riding on it because I have such great affection for the club."

After Stoke's third win in four games at Bradford on Saturday, Pulis admits the first result he looked for was Gillingham's at home to Coventry.

He explained: "I was hoping they would beat Coventry which would have avoided Sunday's make or break. Believe me, this is the kind of match I could have done without."