Skipper Adam Barrett is confident the Gills will pack more punch next season.

Gillingham ended their campaign on Saturday with a 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury Town and finished the season sitting 17th in League 1.

“It was important that we stabilised,” said the captain, who led the Gills to the League 2 title last year.

“The important thing now is to establish ourselves as a good League 1 club, with no silly expectations and getting carried away.

“We will build on it and learn from it. There were times we could have done better but we will learn from those mistakes and hopefully come back stronger.”

Barrett put Gills ahead against Shrewsbury midway through the second half but they couldn’t hang on for a win.

He said: “It was nice to get the goal. I used to score quitea few but they seemed to have dried up a bit in the last few years. It was nice to sign off with a goal and it’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get the win.”

The Gills finished six points above the drop zone but relegation was never on Barrett’s agenda.

He said: “People kept talking about relegation but I don’t think we have been in the bottom four since October.

“It has been a difficult season but we have a tremendous group of players, who have worked hard and it’s important that we are in League 1 next year.

“It is a tough division and I have been proud to captain the club again this year.”