Peter Taylor claims he will only deserve to stay on as Gillingham manager if he keeps them in League 1.

Taylor’s short-term contract expires at the end of the season and his future could be decided on the outcome of the club’s survival fight.

But Gills, who host Crewe on Saturday, are eight points clear of the relegation zone with only nine games left and Taylor hopes to earn a new deal.

He said: “People probably think that because I know Paul Scally well that I’ve got the job next year but that is definitely not the case.

“I’m not going to start lying for the first time in my life. For all I know, the chairman might have somebody else lined up.

“The most important thing for me is to get enough points to stay up. Once we’ve done that, then I would expect a decision.

“If we’re safe and I’m not hearing anything, then I know it’s not me but I do hope we stay up and I then get a call from the chairman.

“Only if we stay up have I done a good enough job. I’m not saying I would take it personally if we didn’t stay up because I still think I’ve done an OK job but I haven’t done a good enough job.

“If we don’t stay up, I don’t deserve the job.”