Gills chairman Paul Scally is confident last season can be bettered.

Gillingham dramatically slipped out of promotion contention having challenged for the automatic places for much of the campaign.

A ninth-place finish in League 1 made for a disappointing end after the season had promised so much.

Club staff were given a three-day holiday in a bid to draw a line under the season.

Mr Scally said: “We had to put a barrier between what was and what is.

“There wasn’t a single person who wasn’t disappointed or fairly devastated that we didn’t at least reach the play-offs.

“That said, we are still in League 1. We did fall away at the end but it was a fantastic season and I saw more fantastic football and results then I have seen in a long time.

“The spirit in the camp is high and there is great optimism for the season going ahead. The players have been top class.

“We are focused on what we need to do to achieve even more success next season, which is what we will do. We will set out to try and beat our ninth position in League 1."

The chairman spent the week in discussions with agents and players, as he looks to tie up deals with members of last season’s squad Josh Wright, Stuart Nelson and Aaron Morris. All three will be out of contract in the summer.