Peter Taylor has warned Gillingham’s players that their livelihoods are at stake.

Interim boss Taylor led the Gills to a crucial 1-0 win over Carlisle on Saturday. It was a victory that kept them out of the League 1 relegation zone.

Taylor said: “It was a massive game for us. As long as players realise they are in a relegation scrap. Sometimes when you get relegated, it is hard to get another club when you are a player.

“Managers who get promotion get lots of phone calls about their players.

“If you get relegated, you don’t get too many phone calls and that’s where the players have to be realistic about it because it’s their futures and I told them that after the game.

“We need fighting performances like we had in the second half and that’s what the crowd appreciated.
“I am sure they appreciated the second half and I am sure they were bored stiff in the first.

“This division is tough, whether it’s the top half or the bottom. League 1 is a good division and you need to fight hard and nick results.”

Taylor admitted that Gillingham’s first half showing against Carlisle was a surprise.

He said: “The lads have trained superbly and the first half performance shocked me. The second half was better and that’s progress for us.”