Manager Neil Harris made no apology for shouting back at an angry Gillingham fan - insisting there’s no need to get personal.

Harris was confronted by frustrated Gills supporters after their 3-0 home loss to Salford City on Saturday but felt one person overstepped the mark and let him know.

• More: Harris' disappointment at losing head of recruitment

He said: “There was one fan in particular who had some choice words to say to me, which is absolutely fine, as the manager of the football club and (someone) saying it is not good enough, I accept that, they are right, I 100% get that, but don’t get personal.

“No fan can get personal with me and not expect a comment back. I have no problem them shouting at me but I will shout back and that won’t change.

“I am a passionate person and I care. I will always stand up for myself.

“There was an individual who had choice words for me, but that was the end of it for me and that’s the way it is.

"You wouldn’t shout at someone across the street because they might get something back, so don’t come into a football ground and just because you pay your money you are entitled to shout personal abuse at an individual, that will not happen.”

Harris had just seen his side lose again, keeping them second-bottom in League 2. They are the Football League’s lowest scorers with six goals and only two wins from 20.

Harris was asked what keeps driving him on.

He said: “The winning feeling keeps me going, I was very fortunate to have success at Millwall and Cardiff.

“We got relegated last year but only right at the end we just fell short, the last couple of games. The first few months was very positive.

“It has been a tough run at the moment but sometimes you have to go through the difficult spells to get better and my light at the moment is what might be brighter at the football club in the coming weeks, that is my light at the end of the tunnel.

“Losing Nicky (Shorey, the head of recruitment) is a blow for me, but the club have to make decisions and I am part of the football club, I have to accept decisions.

“At the moment, it is one game at a time. We have got an FA Cup game to look forward to (on Thursday) and the team-talk for Daryl McMahon (the Dagenham manager) will be my team-talk, an opportunity to be in the Third Round against Leicester City, that is what drives me on for this one.”

Some might have quit in the face of the challenges Harris has faced at the Gills, but there is hope of better times around the corner.

Gillingham have been tight-lipped on investment but things are clearly moving forward with US property-tycoon Brad Galinson.

Harris was asked if he had considered quitting. He said: “There have been difficult moments, rightly so. I am a proud person, I do want to be successful and I do want to be here when the club is on the up.

“I have been here for a difficult spell so far, and I want to be here when the good times start again, because they will, it is just when, I want to be here for that and it keeps me going.

“Now I need to go one game at a time, let’s go with Dagenham on Thursday night and then see after that."