Chatham boss Paul Piggott admitted Gillingham were on a different level to his own team on Tuesday night.

Piggott is busy picking up the pieces following last season’s relegation into the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

A 12-0 defeat to Gillingham won’t distract him.

He said: “You could see what the gulf is between Gillingham Football Club and Chatham Town, with the fitness levels and everything else. It is just a different level altogether.

“There were some great players out there and it was breathtaking to watch at times. Some of the passing and movement were things that we preach all the time at our club but we can’t get our players to that level.”

Gillingham were in town to mark the turning on of a new set of lights and with more than 1,000 fans in attendance, it was certainly a good night’s work for the club off the field.

He said: “It was a tough ask for our players to try and compete for 90 minutes against professionals.

“For the club, it is brilliant. Maybe the occasion will bring in one or two new supporters. They might come back.”

Piggott will be going into the new season with a fresh team and fresh hopes.

He said: “It is going to be a slow process. We have had to start from scratch and we had a big clear-out at the end of last season.

“We had a lot of people who didn’t want to be here and a lot of people who were no good for the club and they have gone now.

“We want players here who want to respect the club, play for the club and fight for the club and not just leave the club at the drop of a hat as soon as a seven-day approach comes in, or if they get left out.

“We want players who are going to commit to the club long-term.”

Of the new arrivals, striker Lee Bremner is a key recruit.

Piggott said: ”He has experience at the level above and we are lucky to get him at this club. If we can build a team who are going to feed him and create him chances, we know he will score goals.”