GILLINGHAM goalkeeper Simon Royce believed that the size of the first-team squad at Priestfield put former manager Ronnie Jepson on a hiding to nothing.

Jepson quit as Gills boss on Sunday morning after just one win in six matches at the start of this season.

But Royce believes that Jepson had a hard task with such limited resources.

"I feel a bit sorry for Ronnie because we have such a small squad," said Royce. "He has been trying to do the best with what he has got.

"If you are pushing for promotion, like the chairman said he wanted to when I was in talks, you can't do it with a squad of 17 or 18 players - it's just not viable."

SEE MONDAY'S MEDWAY MESSENGER FOR A FULL INTERVIEW WITH SIMON ROYCE