Gillingham boss Steve Lovell is expecting League 1 to be even tougher this season.

The Gills ended their last campaign sitting 17th, six points clear of the drop-zone.

Lovell has brought in some young, attacking talent to the squad over the summer for what will be his first full season in charge and will be hoping he has a squad that can compete.

He said: “It is a tough league now, a lot of them have been established in League 1 for a long time, but the three that have come down and those gone up (from League 2) are good teams. It is a hard league, I think it is one of the hardest leagues to get out of.

“I think it will be harder than last season, a lot harder, the reason why is because the teams now are becoming more established, teams start to know the other players. We know who we are playing against, you get to know them and they know us, the players and the systems we play and the managers’ styles. Everyone is one step nearer to cancelling each other out.

“It will be difficult, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. We know what we are, we are a club that work hard, we have good people, we will have a good side that will give it a go every week.”

Sunderland, who dropped out of the Championship last season, are clear favourites to go up at the first time of asking, while Barnsley, Portsmouth, Peterborough and Charlton are also well fancied.

But Lovell said: “People are talking about the bigger sides in League 1 but we’ve had this before. A few years ago we played Sheffield United first game, favourites to go down, they were favourites to go up, we beat them 4-0.

“We went on to be top of the league for several months. If you can start well, have a fit bunch of well-organised players infront of you, you have a chance. That is all I want, to have a chance of going into every game of winning. It is a recipe for a little success and how high depends on circumstances and results.

"We will be determined to give it a go and we are looking forward to the first game.”