Goalkeeper coach Deren Ibrahim has made a big impression on Gillingham manager Neil Harris.

The 31-year-old former Dartford and Gibraltar international stopper joined the Gills just days after Harris was appointed, filling the void after Ian Pledger’s departure.

Harris believes that Ibrahim was a key reason that back-up keeper Aaron Chapman was able to make such an impact when he was promoted to the No.1 slot.

“He is excellent, [I'm] really pleased,” said Harris.

“First and foremost I always talk about character. I want a lot more people like me (in the backroom team) with their work-ethic, and Deren certainly fits into that. He has come in and been a breath of fresh air and his character is fantastic.

“He is a really good age and it wasn’t long ago he was playing for Dartford, in cup finals and National League football. The goalkeepers really liked him.

“I picked Aaron [to be first choice last season], it was a tight call with Pontus [Dahlberg], but there is no coincidence that Deren came in and Aaron’s performances went up.

"I expect that when he works with the goalkeepers next year they will improve.”

Ibrahim will be involved in the discussions as the Gills look to recruit two goalkeepers for the new season after Chapman left for Stevenage and Dahlberg returned to parent club Watford. Youth goalkeeper Tom Crump has also departed.

Harris is making changes to the backroom team over the summer, recruiting the people he feels will make a difference in League 2.

“I wanted to make changes and we are changing,” he said.

He already has Nicky Shorey in on the recruitment side and plans to set up a scouting network.

For now, he said: “Over a period of time it will be his department to build, the analytic side, the stats side, but at the moment it is mainly Nicky [in the recruitment department] and that will be addressed at the start of the season when we look at foot soldiers, people on the floor going to watch games for us.

“It is more the football side of it [for now], sports science, medical, kit department.”