Gills defender Simon King still believes his side still have a chance of making the play-offs despite losing at Port Vale on Saturday.

King was making his first start of the season for Gillingham after boss Andy Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that lost at Southend United on Monday night.

For eighty three minutes the game was going so well for King and Gillingham with Chris Whelpdale putting them in front on the stroke of half time, only for Sean Rigg to level for Vale and Marc Richards made no mistake from the spot in the 90th minute to deny the visitors.

Despite making it six defeats in a row in all competitions (five in the league), King was still upbeat after the Port Vale game:   “I still don’t feel as though we have lost the game and it’s difficult to take in. I felt we deserved at least a point and

maybe all three,” he said. “The lads showed a great attitude and we are all gutted. As a unit we looked really solid and

then just got a bit sloppy towards the end.   “We are on a poor run and it’s very disappointing but we’ve got a good bunch of lads and a good gaffer and I’m confident we

can turn things around.   “No-one likes losing and this was a real sickener, but we were on a good run and in contention for the play-offs before

Christmas and there is no reason why we can’t recapture that form.”

Gills fans will have been pleased to see King back in a Gills shirt, but disappointed to have seen him end up on the losing side.

Meanwhile, Hessenthaler confirmed after the game that both Matt Lawrence and Dennis Oli wouldn’t be offered new contracts come the end of the season and as such would be made available for loan with immediate effect.