Gillingham boss Steve Lovell is urging his out-of-contract players to follow Bradley Garmston and Navid Nasseri in signing new deals.

Lovell is keen to get his squad together before the players return from their summer breaks towards the end of this month. Player-of-the-year Mark Byrne, Darren Oldaker, Ben Nugent and young keeper Tom Hadler have all been offered new contracts, while Lovell is also keen to bring loanee Callum Reilly back on a permanent basis.

He said: “We are just waiting on a couple of others now and hopefully they will get done and if that is the case then we shouldn't need too much more.

“I am still out there talking to players and talking to agents and making options open to us just in case things don't happen, but that is what you have to do. You have to be one step ahead of the game.

“They have to weigh up what is best for them but they have to do it in a way that they can't let it go on too long.

"It is down to the players to make the decision. If they are happy with the contract and happy to stay then I'm happy.”

Garmston’s new deal is for two years. He looks to have put his injury woes behind him after being a regular at left-back towards the latter end of the season.

Lovell said: “I am so pleased to have him here because he gives us a great option out on the left with his pace, either left-back or left wing-back.”