Adrian Pennock has elected to keep his coaching staff for next season as he plans Gillingham’s 2017/18 campaign.

The former central defender will once again work with Steve Lovell and Jamie Day as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging in League One.

Having narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of last season, Pennock was given the thumbs up from Chairman Paul Scally to continue in his Head Coach role with Peter Taylor coming back to the club as Director of Football.

With Pennock given the chance to concentrate more on the day to day aspects of the club, the former defender will be judged on his own squad rather than the one he inherited off Justin Edinburgh.

A number of players have been released, whilst Pennock has offered new deals to the likes of striker Cody McDonald, although only Greg Cundle has been the only one thus far to agree to another spell at Priestfield.

With around three weeks until the Gillingham squad reassemble ahead of pre-season trips to Ireland and Le Touquet, Pennock has been busy talking to a number of players, whilst having some much needed time off with his family.

Both Day and Lovell have a wealth of experience between them and know Kent football, so a number of local potential targets could be handed trials over the pre-season spell.

Managers are clearly judged on results and although Pennock has the title of Head Coach, he will undoubtedly have just a number of months to make a good impression on a Gillingham fanbase that are desperate for success.

With Blackpool having secured promotion to League One following their play-off final win over Exeter City, fans will now eagerly await the release of the new season fixtures.