Gillingham manager Steve Evans has hinted he may well leave the club following their exit of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

The Gills boss was in full on frank mode when questioned after the game which saw the club lose 5-4 on penatlies to Cheltenham Town after the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes at Priestfield.

In a night that saw a patched up side take to the field, things went from bad to worse for Evans and co when David Tutonda limped off in the first half, whilst striker Vadaine Oliver failed to appear for the second half, forcing Evans to push defender Max Ehmer into attack.

With Harvey Lintott and Gerard Sithole missing from the squad due to Covid, Alex MacDonald and John Akinde sat out the game due to injury, although Evans’ comments has caused doubt on whether the latter is truly injured.

Transfer listed and having already turned down a move to Bristol Rovers, Akinde has been linked with a move to Southend United, but is said to be currently unavailable for selection with Evans unsure as to where to go next on the matter:

“John Akinde has had time, he has baffled medical science, medical people, everyone. The scans show nothing but he says he is feeling it. We have to accept it. It’s not that I don’t believe John but it’s harsh on us.”

Meanwhile, the Gillingham boss has cast doubt on his own future at the club after hinting in recent weeks that he is struggling to keep fielding a competitive team on the budget he has available:

“The boys know the situation we are in, they are not silly. We can’t keep magicking things – you get what you deserve. I have wanted a striker. If we are told to go with no strikers I will consider what I want to do. It’s not a project for me.”

“I don’t leave my family for four or five nights a week to fight relegation battles. We need a chance of winning games in League One.”

“We need to sit down with the chairman and see where we are. We have a massive, massive problem.”

Evans then went on to explain the situation that saw Oliver taken off at half time with Ehmer pushed up front:

“I sat next to the chairman second half and said about playing Max Ehmer up front. We have no other striker. Danny Lloyd is not a striker. It was Max or shoving in wide players. At least Max has played there before.”

“David (Tutonda) got a bang on the knee and Vadaine (Oliver) twisted his ankle landing. It could be a few days or a few weeks – it will be tomorrow before we know.”

“If Vadaine is out and we have to go forward with no striker then it is head scratching time. It will be why am I here? I am too good at my job to be in this situation.”

“We will go to Shrewsbury and fight but in League One you need to do more than fight. I am down because I look at what I have to do at half time and put my centre back up front. We will end up with seven players in three weeks time.”

Evans is clearly at odds with Chairman Paul Scally over the available budget and the latter has suggested in recent weeks there is more than enough to keep the club being competitive, but the manager questioned that at the end of his press conference on Tuesday night:

“Yeah, that’s what he said”

Tuesday night feels like a real turning point at Gillingham Football Club and fans have started to question both the manager and chairman on social media.

Where the situation goes next is anyone’s guess.