Gillingham head coach Ady Pennock would love to prove the doubters wrong.

His side are among the bookies’ favourites for relegation ahead of the new campaign, after only surviving on the final day last season and losing some key players from the squad.

Pennock will hope the replacements prove to be shrewd as he looks to give people much more to smile about this time around, starting at Doncaster on Saturday.

He said: “Everyone has their own opinion, that’s football. We are favourites to go down, I am favourite to get the sack, blah blah blah. I get told that every time I walk down the street but it is what it is.

“With the players we have got in, I can’t see why we would be favourites to go down. There are some good players here, hungry and talented.

“I would love to prove people wrong, definitely, that’s what keeps you going. It’s what gets me going and I can’t wait for the start of the season.”

Gillingham start their League 1 campaign away to a Doncaster team who won promotion from the division below last time out.

Pennock had a tough spell in charge last season, taking over midway through the season from sacked Justin Edinburgh. Relegation was only narrowly avoided.

But with eight new faces in the squad and an unbeaten pre-season behind them, there is certainly an air of positivity around Priestfield. “Hopefully the fans can see the difference,” said the manager.

“There is a good feel about the whole place and behind the scenes it seems everyone is together, singing off the same hymn sheet.

“That’s what I wanted when I first came here. It’s so important. It is a great club, let’s hope we can take it places.”

Read the full interview in Thursday's Medway Messenger.