Former Gillingham captain Barry Fuller has backed the side to go on and challenge for promotion under new boss Martin Allen.

The 27 year old was released by the club a couple of weeks ago after four and a half years at Priestfield and told KSN earlier this week of his disappointment at leaving the club he holds close to his heart.

Despite not being part of Martin Allen’s plans, Fuller firmly believes the side have what it takes to go on and push for promotion back into League One:

“The squad is without doubt strong enough and I reckon they will be pushing for the play-offs or even better come the end of the season.”

“There’s some good players at Gillingham and we didn’t really do ourselves justice last season.”

“I think with some of the changes Martin has made at the club, they will be better prepared for the next year and I reckon they will be the team to beat for a lot of sides.”

The appointment of Allen has raised a few eyebrows within football circles, especially with his unorthodox methods, but for Fuller, he is the right man to lead Gillingham for years to come:

“Martin has got that winning mentality and he wants to make the side hard to beat. He’s the kind of manager that is prepared to admit when things aren’t going right in a game and will make the changes to make sure it goes right.”

“He’s drummed that into the players and that’s something maybe the players have lacked over the last year or two.”

“That’s one massive positive that even I picked up and took on in my time there. Everything he does, he has got that winning mentality and I think the club have got a great opportunity to go up this year.”

“I wish them all the best and I hope they do.”

“I think Martin being different is good for the club and I think people will like that. You don’t know what you’re going to get from one day to the next, but he is really honest, he’s for the boys, he tells you how it is and doesn’t beat around the bush.”

“Some people may read that we didn’t get on given the situation of me leaving, but it was nothing like that and I have the utmost respect for him in the time I worked with him.”

“I enjoyed my time working with him and I’d have been over the moon to sign for him and play for him. As I’m aware, he thought highly of me as a person.”

“For me, he could well be the man to take Gillingham up this year.”