Manager Gareth Ainsworth has spoken of his desire to keep player-of-the-year Glenn Morris at the club next season.

Morris, 41, is out of contract this summer but has had a superb 2024/25 season, helping the Gills to an impressive defensive record, matching the goals against tally of the top sides in the division.

Key to that has been their veteran keeper Morris, who was also named players’ player-of-the-year this season, as well as picking up the Gillingham Supporters’ Club award as their star man.

“I'm just glad that his (shot) at Salford didn’t go in because he probably would have got a goal of the season as well,” joked the Gills boss.

“Glenn, wow. At over 40, to be able to pull off those performances week in, week out. It’s nothing he didn't deserve here.

“He's a cracking guy. He's definitely part of the plans going forward.

“He's a well-deserved player-of-the-year from most factions, supporters, players, officials, everything and rightly so. So well done, Glenn.

“I'm proud to have him. Hopefully, future plans will be with Glenn in them.

“He's definitely in my plans going forward. We'll talk. There are all sorts of factors that go into contract discussions. You'll hear me saying this time and time again over the players. We do keep it private.

“Obviously, Glenn's performances have not gone unnoticed by me.

“The defensive record as a whole, I think we've done very well this season. Top seven or eight. That's super to have. It does point towards, ‘can we be a bit more creative? Can we score some more goals?’ We have a good recipe here but we'll see.”

Morris became Gillingham’s oldest ever player when he played for the Gills at Swansea in the League Cup last August. He was back-up keeper to Jake Turner at the start of the season before claiming the no.1 spot.

He’ll turn 42 in December but Ainsworth said: “I played to 43, I think, in my last game. That was outfield, so there's no excuse for him! He doesn't run about as much as I did. I'm only joking.

“He keeps himself in great nick. I think he's an example to the rest of the boys and the rest of football. You can go on to whatever age you feel like going on.

“I will give one secret away, he is starting on Saturday, so hopefully he can keep a clean sheet and top what was a brilliant week off.”

Morris is keen for another season at Gills, or elsewhere.

He has already spoken about his willingness to stay and said: “I always like to judge it as it goes along now and I made a decision in January time that I would carry on. Hopefully it is here, if it’s not here hopefully I will carry on playing somewhere.”