Gillingham forward Brandon Hanlan feels the sky is the limit this season – on both a team and personal basis.

Speaking to Kent Sports News after the Gills’ opening pre season fixture at Faversham Town, Hanlan said the main focus for the squad is to ‘keep pushing’.

‘[The aim is] to just finish as high as we can in the table. Just keep going. Just not let up for the whole season’.

Last season Gillingham finished in 13^th place in League One, but were riddled with inconsistency throughout the campaign which often hindered their form. They weren’t mathematically safe from relegation until after the penultimate game of the season, a 2-0 loss at home to Charlton, and it seemed the inconsistency of the side cost manager Steve Lovell his job.

New manager Steve Evans has signed nine players to date in an attempt to turn around Gillingham’s fortunes next season, and Hanlan says they’re settling in well.

‘It’s good to be around the new boys and everyone else. I feel like we’re starting to gel as a group. It’s definitely good to be back.’

New signings Mikael Ndjoli and Nathan Thomas both scored twice in Gillingham’s 9-1 win against Faversham on Saturday, with Matty Willock and now permanent signing Connor Ogilvie also on the scoresheet.

Hanlan has high praise for the new man at the helm at Priestfield.

‘It’s good to be around the new gaffer’ he said. ‘He wants us to play. He’s got the right mindset of us to go forward, so it’s definitely great.’

‘He’s got high intensity, so it’s definitely good to be around.’

When asked about personal targets, Hanlan wasn’t mentioning numbers but was pretty clear in his ambitions.

‘[I want to] score as many goals as I can!’

Striker Hanlan scored 9 goals for Gillingham last season in his first full season at League One level, and he’s hungry for more.

‘[I] just [want to] get more than I got last season.’

The 22-year-old formed an excellent partnership with Tom Eaves last season but, with the latter seemingly on his way out of the club, he’ll have new bonds to build and plenty of fresh competition.

Gillingham continue their pre-season campaign next Saturday at Folkstone Incivta and will open their League One campaign at Doncaster Rovers on August 3.

 

Image: Gillingham FC