Head coach Ady Pennock is working overtime to add competition to his Gills squad ahead of the transfer deadline.

No more deals involving contracted players can be made for the rest of the season after Tuesday night.

Pennock brought in forward Josh Parker at the weekend but more new faces could follow.

He and Gillingham chairman Paul Scally were working on deals on Sunday in a bid to make the team as competitive as it can be for the remainder of the season.

Pennock said: “We need more bodies in. If we can get things done then we will. Finances have to be right and they have to fit into what we want to do.

“We are not going to get people in willy-nilly. We have to get right characters in and more importantly good footballers. They have to be hungry. I just think we need a couple of winners.

“There is a long list (of targets), not a short list. We talk to agents and the clubs they are at. Tuesday is getting close and we would like to get some new faces in if we can.”

Mr Scally will be doing his best to back up his new manager with the deals he wants, although finances will come into play.

He said: “The new rules introduced for this season, which do not allow any permanent signings or loan moves after February 1, add plenty of pressure for managers and chairmen up and down the country.

“Ady and I have worked tirelessly and will continue to do so to both assess our squad in great detail and seek to strengthen it in key areas.

“The January transfer window is always a difficult period to do business in, however, we will be doing everything in our powers to bring those players Ady has identified as his targets to the club.”