Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth wants senior players like Glenn Morris and Bradley Dack to help with squad unity and development as ex Wolves, Burnley and Stoke striker Sam Vokes is linked with a move to Priestfield

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth will be leaning on his senior players next season to play a vital role within the squad.

Ainsworth believes he’s got some strong leaders within the squad, including Jonny Williams and Bradley Dack, and they’ll play a vital role in helping nurture some up-and-coming players while assisting others as they settle into life at Priestfield.

Newcomer Seb Palmer-Houlden will be welcomed into the group later this week when the players report back for testing. There could be another new face in the forward department with former Wycombe striker Sam Vokes, 35, linked with a move to the Gills.

Vokes played international football for Wales – alongside Jonny Williams – and made Premier League appearances for both Wolves and Burnley. His last season at Wycombe ended with a broken arm, which ruled him out of their League 1 play-off matches. A knee injury had limited him to a handful of appearances before that.

Ainsworth, speaking of his current senior players, said: “I know the characters in the group that we've got and they'll make him (Seb) feel welcome. He'll already feel like he's met most of them with the messages that go on WhatsApp.

“Something that we're big fans of, me and (assistant manager) Dobbo, is almost the mentorship from some of these older players, but when you've got Bradley Dack, Jonny Williams and Max Clark in your squad, these will take players under their wing.

“They've done it so far for me and I'm asking this season that we can go one step further with this mentorship and leadership roles that some of the players can do from within the dressing room. Glenn Morris does it naturally because he's an older player.

“We've got a young squad, we've got some real legs in the team,