Five of Gillingham’s first team squad will find out soon what kind of offer they will be made.

Manager Steve Evans has told the club’s board who he would like to keep from those players with expiring contracts and discussions are expected to take place today (Friday) regarding those offers.

A decision will be made on what they can offer to captain Max Ehmer, forwards Brandon Hanlan and Mika Mandron, along with midfielders Regan Charles-Cook and Henry Woods.

“I am hopeful we will keep all of them,” said Gills boss Steve Evans.

“Each of those lads will get an offer, whether it’s an offer that induces them to stay at the club we will see in time.”

With no firm date yet for a new season the Gills don’t want to lumber themselves down with a big wage bill.

They only have nine first team players on contract beyond this month, including Lee Hodson and Barry Fuller who have been told they are free to look elsewhere for football next season.

It also includes youngsters Henry Woods and Joe Walsh.

In contrast, the winners of League 1 Coventry City have also recently announced their retained list, heading into the months ahead without football with 31 senior players on their books.

Gillingham’s lack of players might have been a hindrance in the season but right now - with no income - it’s a big help to the finances.

Chairman Paul Scally said: “Over the years I have endured some criticism in regards to our relatively low cost base in comparison to others, a cost base more forced upon us than designed through choice.

“Ironically it is that same cost base that has allowed us to plan a way through these baron months where income has decreased to almost nothing.”

With no date announced for a new season - or a proposed one at least - the Gills will have to think carefully about offering players new terms.

Some clubs offering deals now are starting them in August, rather than the traditional July 1. A date for a new season is looking likely to be in September.

Evans said: “The one thing for sure is that we cannot ask the football club in these current times to go and pay wages out when the season has not got a start date, that would be the worst business sense you have ever seen.”

If the five players Evans wants all sign then that will give him a 14-man squad but with Woods likely to head out on loan - if he stays - and defensive pair Hodson and Fuller asked to look for new clubs, it would leave that down to 11.

Of the five he wants to keep, Evans said “Those five were straight-forward in their own rights.

“Mika Mandron took longer than we thought to get him fit but I think by the time the season finished Mika was doing really well for us, he was just getting into his stride.

“Max for me has had his best season in a long time, that is because we had him playing a different way and I think Max said he has never enjoyed a season as much as the last one just finished.

“Henry is a young lad, an under-23 player really. Regan needs to find more consistency and Brandon needs to find more goals. Both are good lads. All five of them are great lads.”

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