GILLINGHAM reserve team manager Bobby Paterson has defended the club’s decision to quit the Pontin’s Holidays Combination League.

From next season Gills’ second string will play friendlies against local sides after losing patience with the league set-up.

Paterson, who runs the club’s youth and reserve sides, said: "This is a positive as we can now control when we play.

"We would prefer to have a game when we need one and last year was typical where every time we didn’t want a reserve game we had one.

"We’ll be playing against non-league teams in Kent like Margate, Ramsgate, Maidstone and Gravesend."

Full interview in Monday's Medway Messenger.