Gillingham chief executive Mark Jones has urged supporters to back the club in their quest for an immediate return to League 1.

The club needs the fans to keep the books balanced and reduce the losses incurred following the Gills’ relegation to the bottom tier of the Football League.

Mr Jones believes the club can comfortably cope with the financial hit following the drop into League 2 – but only if the fans continue to turn up.

The chief executive, who arrived last month, is currently fixing season ticket prices for the new campaign and is hoping to keep the loyal fans onboard.

“We would love to get 3,500 season ticket holders again and if we can get those then that would be truly fantastic,” he said.

“Our whole programme this year when we launch the season ticket campaign will be geared towards family and children because it’s important. They are the lifeblood and our future.

“We want to go out to the supporters and say, ‘please support us and buy a season ticket’, and please help us with the lottery we are about to launch and with any other non-matchday event or function at the club.

“Every single penny counts and everything that they do will help to get us rocking and rolling back into League 1.”