Conor Masterson is Gillingham’s player-of-the-year and is still pushing for promotion even though it’s a long-shot – Former QPR and Liverpool defender reflects on the season and club’s turnaround

Player-of-the-year winner Conor Masterson would swap the personal accolades at Gillingham for promotion in a heartbeat.

Masterson, 25, took the fans’ award at the club’s annual end-of-season ceremony on Saturday night but with two games to go, there remains hope that the club’s aims for the season can still be achieved.

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He said: “I would rather throw all of that (acclaim) away and get the team promoted if I am honest! That is what we’re focused on.

“I came here because the club gave me a chance and I wanted to repay them and give the best performances I possibly could for the team, I am glad that people think I’ve done alright this season.

“I came here to play as much as possible and I think I have done that. Gillingham has been a big club for me in my career, it’s really been the club I have settled at and played my best football.

“I have really enjoyed it here, the fans have been really supportive to me, that is one of the reasons I came if I am honest, I wanted to come back and get promoted with the team and I still aim to do that.

“We want to go out with a bang - whether that’s in or out of the play-offs. I don’t want the fans to think we’ve given up or thrown in the towel, it’s not how we feel.

“Stephen (Clemence) and Robbie (Stockdale, the head coach and assistant) have come in and been really good with us, with their philosophies, the gaffer has helped me a lot and I have really enjoyed working with him.

“I came to the club (for promotion) - I want to keep going and give everything I can as long as I can for this club, that’s the way it’s going to be.

“We want to give everything for Gillingham - we want to keep fighting to the end. We believe in