Gillingham boss Martin Allen is hoping to improve his sides’ fitness levels for the forthcoming season.

Allen has pinpointed it as one of the things he and his backroom staff can work on to make the side more successful.

For the new Gillingham manager, that was highlighted against Dartford on Saturday where he felt his side looked a little jaded:

He said: “I thought the players looked very tired in the first half. We really had a hard session on Friday which is all part of our training, so we can’t be too disappointed with it and we almost expected a leggy performance.”

“I thought there were 15 minutes after the break where they really stepped up, which I thought was very encouraging.”

“Then, the last 30 minutes, maybe with a less-experienced team, who although they had done the same training, played a different system and we looked a lot sharper, more passing, a lot more tenacious, better to watch and we scored the goal.”

“To win the game, away from home with a clean sheet, was a bonus and I hope I’m saying that a lot more over the next eleven months.”

He added: “We’ve got a lot of games coming thick and fast now, so we’ve got to get the players up to a fitness level, level out and when we get close to the start we will reduce the time they are working and reduce the intensity.”

“We don’t want to see leggy performances when they are tired – we want them in tip-top shape for the start of the season. We’ve got a new physio and strength and conditioning coach in, a new doctor is starting this week, so the guys behind the scenes are working very hard to get the lads fitter and stronger.”

“They are clever, they are well above my level and they give me advice and guidance so I can set the training levels correctly.”

“They are eating well at the ground; the chef has been brilliant so all in all we are trying to make it as professional as we can make it. The players have been very receptive.”

Meanwhile, Gillingham are back in action once again on Wednesday night when they take on the Royal Engineers at Priestfield.

Allen is expected to give those that played the last half an hour on Saturday, sixty minutes at Priestfield, with trialists Ryan Gilligan and Dean Morgan still with the squad.

Matt Fish could miss the game after picking up a knock at Dartford, though former Millwall striker Ben May is training with the squad and could get a run out.

New loan signing Toomy Forecast could also feature at some point after joining up with the squad this week.

Kick off is at 7pm with entry £5 for adults and £2 for under 16’s. All proceeds from the game go to The AFB, The soldiers charity.