Gillingham goalkeeper Simon Royce has agreed to sign a new one-year contract.

Royce was due to put pen-to-paper when the Gills players began pre-season training today (Thursday), and his decision will end weeks of speculation over the 37-year-old's future at Priestfield.

Royce has made 81 league and cup appearances for Gillingham since arriving on loan from QPR at the end of the 2006/07 season.

The popular keeper - who won the player-of-the-season award the following year - played a key role last season, keeping 20 clean sheets, as the Gills earned an instant return to League 1.