Gillingham manager Mark Stimson will meet with chairman Paul Scally on Thursday afternoon to discuss the club’s transfer budget.

Stimson wants to bolster his squad with defensive cover and a new striker and he’ll find out whether he will be given the cash to get the players he wants.

“It’s d-day,” said Stimson. “It will be good to sit down with him (Scally) and see if there are any finances available. If there are, then I’ll spend them, because we do need to add and we’re down to the bare bones again this weekend.”

Stimson will be hoping to get a share of the profits generated from the FA Cup match against Aston Villa but after recently signing Andy Barcham and sealing a deal to keep coach Mark Robson at the club, funds are likely to be limited.

“The chairman might surprise us and say there is some money to spend,” said Stimson.

“We need to get a couple of players in to help us because we are light on numbers.

“In the next six to eight games you really want to be in that pack and if we did get an injury to a centre half on Saturday then for Tuesday night’s game we’ll only have one recognised centre half.

“There are a couple (of defenders) out there but it’s just a case of seeing what money I’ve got and see if we want to do a deal.

“It will give me a clearer picture after today (Thursday) if I’ve got any money and how much I’ve got and I’ll spend it as wisely as I can.”

Click the link at the top of the page to hear what Mark Stimson had to say when talking to our reporter Luke Cawdell