Gillingham signed off with a big win at the weekend and boss Steve Lovell insists this is just the beginning.

His team were already safe from relegation before they ended their campaign with a 5-2 victory over play-off hopefuls Plymouth on Saturday.

“This is just the start”, said Lovell.

“We are going to push on next year and I am really excited about it, working hard in the summer to make sure we have a squad that can do better than this year. I am really looking forward to next year.

“It is a busy time now for me. The players can go off and do whatever they want and enjoy themselves, and rightly so, but there is a job now to build on what we have got here.

“We have got a fantastic dressing room and if we can add a number to the group and strengthen the squad I think next year we will come out fighting and have a good go.”

It’s been another challenging season for the Gills, a year after staying up on the final day of the season at Northampton. Lovell has guided the team to safety this season and the fans were singing his name throughout Saturday’s final game.

“They have been great,” said the manager.

“They haven't had a lot to cheer over the last few years but they stuck by us this year and they have been a big part in our staying in this league.

“You can't do anything without the fans and they have been brilliant for us. Hopefully we can do something next year to finish the other end of the table to the one we finished this year.”

The Gills ended the campaign sitting 17th in League 1.

Lovell, speaking at the end-of-season awards, said: “Our first aim was to stay in the league and we thought it was a task that may have been beyond us, but with the group of players we have, we managed to pull it off.

“For the last 10-11 games it got a little touchy, we needed to get over the line and the spirit in the club and leadership we had and the experienced players pulled us through.

“Saturday was great, especially for me and my staff, because the last six or seven weeks have been a nightmare. I could really enjoy the last 30 seconds because we had won the game and we were safe."