GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has not abandoned hope of making a couple of summer signings despite the threat of swingeing cutbacks caused by the collapse of ITV Digital.

As chairman Paul Scally plans a survival strategy that could lead to a pruning of the playing staff, the Gills boss remains optimistic.

Mr Scally has already cancelled the club’s pre-season trip to Tobago and put on hold the relaying of the Priestfield pitch and building work on the club’s conferencing facilities.

Hessenthaler said: “We've had another outstanding season but come the summer I still hope that we'll be able to go away and prepare in the right way. We've done that for the last two years and done fantastically well over the two seasons. Hopefully, come the summer, we'll be able to bring in a couple of new faces and go again.”

Waiting to negotiate new contracts are assistant manager Richard Hill and coach Wayne Jones, plus players Iffy Onuora, Marcus Browning and Mark Saunders who has been transfer-listed. Onuora has been offered a one-year deal and Saunders two years.