Challenges ahead for Gillingham manager Neil Harris after relegation from League 1

Gillingham manager Neil Harris is determined to drive up standards at the club as he looks to pick up the pieces from their relegation campaign.

Harris took charge of Gillingham’s last 18 games and despite improving their form, it wasn’t enough, as the club were relegated to League 2 on goal difference. He’s planning a summer clear-out of playing staff but every part of the club will be under scrutiny after a disastrous season.

The Gills went down after a 2-0 defeat to Rotherham and post-match Harris offered his players some words of truth. The team was relegated with just 40 points and only 35 league goals scored - the fewest in the division.

“I didn’t speak with anger, I just told them the truth,” he said. “Sometimes in life you need to be told the truth, and it is my responsibility as the manager that they need to know the truth and that goes for the staff as well.

“The staff I have inherited haven’t been good enough. Standards need to be better across the football club, it is not just about what the players do on the pitch for 90 minutes on a Saturday, it is about what happens during the week, it is about having the right people in the right jobs with roles and responsibilities and we have been miles off.”

Harris’ frustration was clear to see in his post-match interviews after Saturday’s game.

"To have a tactics board on my first day would have been nice," he told Sky Sports. "Minor details that people don’t see are major for football managers. The challenge was there, I accepted the challenge, I am emotionally invested in the challenge and that is why it hurts.

“I take responsibility for the football club - it has not been good enough. The whole football club has let its fans down this year. That will change when I