Gillingham’s loan winger Connor Mahoney is keen to stay and help with an improved promotion bid next season.

Mahoney believes there is a base for success at the Gills and after a season on loan from Huddersfield Town he’s willing to negotiate a new permanent deal in the summer.

More: “The story of our season”

With six goals this season and goal involvements into double figures - league and cup - it’s an impressive return from a player in a side who have struggled to find the net this term.

Mahoney joined the Gills in the summer after a frustrating season previously with Huddersfield and has shown glimpses of a player who has plenty of Championship experience. He came to Priestfield hoping to rekindle his love for the game and that’s what he’s done.

“It is something I am going to speak to the manager about,” said the attacking midfielder.

“It is down to them and if they want me here next season going forward, it is something I would be happy to do.

“This season has been about playing for me and going from there. I think there is a lot more I can offer to the team going forward and the gaffer thinks that as well. It is something we will sit down and discuss.

“I have loved my time here, the fans as well, and I would be happy to stay here.

“I have got my family up north but I have said previously I just want to play football now. I am enjoying my football and have found somewhere I am happy. Why would I want to change that?

“I wanted to play football, get happy, enjoy myself, score a couple of goals, create a couple of goals, and just get back to enjoying the game and I thank the club and the gaffer for letting me do that.”

Mahoney spoke after 1-0 loss to Bradford, another game gone as the season peters out for the Gills. Hopes of making the play-offs are now only a mathematic possibility.

While admitting the team were left “devastated” after another defeat, Mahoney can see plenty of good things already in place, ahead of a summer where the club will look to bring in new recruits to solve the goalscoring problem.

He said: “If we can sort that out in the summer I think next season will be a very positive one.

“I am gutted about this one, the fans have paid a lot of money to travel and watch but we haven’t been up to scratch and I apologise to them, but fortunately they stuck by us. Hopefully, we can make next season a good one and end this season on a high.

“From where the club has come after the last couple of seasons down there at the bottom, to see us fighting for play-offs - albeit it looks like we have come up short - I think the club is going in a massively positive step forward.

“Although we have had some bad performances, hopefully the fans can see the club is on the up and hopefully we will get to where we want to get to.

“I think we have got very good players here.

“It has been a difficult season, we changed the manager and stuff like that, and we haven't scored enough goals but I think there are one or two things we’re missing but if we can address that in the summer and sort that out and next season we’ll be very competitive and hopefully we’ll get what we want to get.”