Spending in League 1 is ‘getting out of control’ according to Gillingham manager Steve Evans.

The third-tier of English football is littered with big-name clubs but they’re not the only ones investing big in the hope of making it to the Championship. Evans has branded the transfer situation among their rivals as ‘ridiculous.’

Gillingham will come up against one of those clubs who are hoping to buy in winning talent. Lincoln City are the visitors to Priestfield for the season opener and over the weekend papers in Scotland were reporting that the club were lining up a £200k plus bid for Dundee United left-back Jamie Robson.

City aren’t the only team spending this summer but Evans will be keeping an eye on what last season’s losing play-off finalists do ahead of their weekend game at Priestfield.

Looking ahead to The Imps' visit, Evans said: “I know the Lincoln fans have lots of banter about me but the reality is that they are spending a quarter of a million pounds on a full-back from Scotland.

“I’m not knocking them, if I had that and you have that backing you would be doing it wouldn't you? They have signed the boy Adelakun who was on loan at Hull City, big players, big earners but we will be competitive. We will be ready.

“Nobody will give us a chance in League 1 but the money is getting out of control, the spending is ridiculous and I am not talking about any particular club. There are clubs who have got huge wage roles, huge, 10 times more than us.”

Two go up automatically in League 1 and a third via the play-offs. The big-guns will be clambering for those places but there will be some disappointed chairman come the end of the summer.

“I think there will be a lot of disappointed chairman by October,” said the Gills boss. “But I don’t worry about them; I have no interest in them. I have to make sure Gills are right.”

He’s hoping to get some fresh faces in before Wednesday so he can work on them before that first game against Lincoln.

“We will be strong and competitive but we hope to do some good business,” he said.

“We are talking and we are trying really hard but it is difficult.”

Evans feels they are stronger this season in certain areas following his summer recruitment campaign. He’s still looking at bringing in at least three more faces. The attacking department is still looking light.

He said: “I am delighted because (goalkeepers) Chapman and Cumming make us better, for sure, Max Ehmer coming in certainly makes us better. We have made some good additions. Ben Reeves makes us better, I could keep going.

“We are trying to bring players in, there are players coming out of bigger clubs than us, trying to earn a contract and I have always said football is about levels. If you can’t earn a contract in the Championship it doesn't mean you can’t earn one in League 1. It is about levels.

“We are delighted with the fitness levels, considering the big issues we had with Covid, we are pleased with that and we are pleased with the bulk of the group.”

The Gills conclude their pre-season fixtures tonight (Tuesday) with a match at Norwich City.

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