Boxing Day opponents Leyton Orient are proof smaller clubs can compete at the top of League 1, says Gills boss Peter Taylor.

Leaders Orient are holding off big clubs like Wolves even though they’re a similar-sized one to Gillingham.

Taylor led Gills to promotion to the old Division 1 (now the Championship) in 2000 before joining Premier League Leicester and believes Gills are capable of competing again one day.

He fondly recalled the class of 2000 and admits he has wondered how the team would have fared under him had he turned down Leicester’s advances.

Taylor said: “I’ve been here when we got promotion to the Championship, so we know what can be done.

“You just have to recruit the right way, be patient and believe in what you’re doing.

“You honestly don’t know what that team would have been capable of had I stayed.

“It was a good team who believed in themselves and had confidence. They were honest players. If you recruit with the right balance of legs and quality and brains and everything else, then you’re going to have a good team.”

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