Renewing player contracts is on the back-burner as the Gills look to maintain their League 1 promotion push.

Several of the club’s star players, including defender John Egan and goalkeeper Stuart Nelson, will be free agents in the summer.

But boss Justin Edinburgh doesn’t want his players distracted by being caught up in contract negotiations.

He said: “It is slightly a difficult scenario because we have got a few out of contract at the end of the season. I feel it is not a concern.

“The concern for the club and the group right now is what we are doing on the pitch and trying to maintain that.

“When players are winning games and doing what we’re doing, obviously players want their futures resolved but I think they want to concentrate on the football.

“I wouldn’t want to upset, distract or lose the focus of the football matches right now.

“We are aware of it but it is not a priority at the moment. Everyone’s priority is just trying to finish what we’ve started.”

The list of players out of contract also includes captain Doug Loft, fellow midfielders Josh Wright, Jermaine McGlashan and Aaron Morris and striker Luke Norris.