Gillingham manager Neil Harris looks ahead to better times after their League 2 survival was confirmed with victory over Leyton Orient

Gillingham’s League 2 survival is just the beginning as manager Neil Harris plots better times ahead.

The club are currently in the business of negotiating deals with players he wants to keep - on top of those already signed up for next term - and he’s excited for what lies ahead.

Harris’ side were nose-diving towards non-league at the end of last year but new owners and a cash injection helped improved the squad dramatically, ensuring the club’s Football League status is assured.

The manager knew once the Galinsons took over there were better times ahead but salvaging the season from the depths of despair over the winter has taken some doing.

Harris said: “If we hadn’t adjusted in the transfer window we would have [gone down], that was plain to see. We had won two games in 23, scored seven goals, 14 points. It was horrific and I was part of it, it was terrible.

“But then we have been a collective since and we have grown, we have added good personnel, League 2 know-how, good players, added physicality and goals, and it has culminated in us beating league champions-elect [Leyton Orient] 2-0.

“[Since New Year] we have had the feel-good factor of new ownership, the influx of new players, some leaving, some coming in, and me finding formulas at the right time to get us over the line.

“Leading up to Christmas when I had some dialogue and spent time with Brad and Shannon [Galinson] and spoke to them a lot, I was confident we would [survive]. What I didn’t cater for was the disastrous Christmas and New Year period we had where we just didn’t respond and I was thinking, ‘unless we get [new] players, I can’t galvanise us anymore, I can’t drag us any further, I can’t drag myself any further’.

“We then beat Hartlepool at home and