The Gills finished just six points away from the drop zone in a tough League One last season, but this time around they might not be so lucky.

The jury is still out on manager Steve Lovell, a relatively inexperienced boss who didn't so much save them from relegation as frantically struggle against it.

Luckily, there were four worse teams in the division, but with the latest influx of clubs, that won't remain the same.

Whilst Accrington may be relegation candidates, Luton and Wycombe will both be tough characters as will all of the relegated Championship sides.

The summer hasn't been entirely kind to the Gills either.

Ben Nugent turned down a new deal with the club and the transfer policy has been less than spectacular.

Regan Charles-Cook is a decent, but he struggled to get into Charlton's side last season and spent most of the campaign at relegated National League side Woking. Similarly another new signing, Dean Parrett, only played 25 times for AFC Wimbledon.

Financially, they may find it hard to compete with some of the bigger clubs in the division, but the harsh reality is aside from perhaps three or four, they're the minnows in an increasingly tough competition.

Portsmouth, Sunderland, Charlton and Barnsley are all big clubs at this level, not to mention Luton Town who are on the way back.

Their one hope lies on the broad shoulders of striker Tom Eaves, 18 goals in all competitions last season.

He's the one player that currently has the ability to fire them away from the bottom four, but will that be enough? Can the club attract a player who brings enough to the table to ease the burden on Eaves?

Steve Lovell needs to bring in players capable of winning at least 13 matches next season, that means adding some creativity to the wide areas and bringing someone in to take the weight from Eaves' shoulders.

He can't compete for players such as Lyle Taylor, but when your marquee signing is a Bromley midfielder or a Charlton reserve, you know you're feeding from the very bottom of the tank.

Gills fans will be watching and waiting as the next few weeks unfold, hoping to see signs that Steve Lovell has both the contracts and pulling power to attract suitable players to the cause. After all, they only need to be the fifth worse side in the division, don't they?

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