Experienced midfielder Shaun Williams missed the chance to help Gillingham escape the drop from League 1 but is excited for the new challenge ahead.

Gillingham boss Neil Harris tried to bring the 35-year-old to Priestfield in January but time was against him and the deal never happened. Williams will now be hoping to make an impact with an altogether different challenge.

Fans will be hoping the Gills can compete at the top end of the table this season as the return to League 2 for the first time since the 2012/13 season.

Williams said: “I wanted to come and help (last season), we tried to get it done, but we couldn’t due to the short time we had but it’s done now and I am really excited.

“Neil being here was a massive factor for me, he is an infectious person, he is a people person and he has had success in the past and hopefully he can have it again in the future.

“I have played at Gillingham quite a few times as an opposition player and I know how difficult and hostile it can be for an away team, to be on the other end of that now with the fans behind it will be great.

“I think League 2 will be competitive, obviously there was the disappointment of relegation for Gillingham last year, hopefully now it is going to be a fresh start. This season we are going to strive to be the best that we can be and hopefully we can push on.”

Williams previously played for Harris at Millwall, where he clocked up over 250 league appearances during a six and a half year stay with the South London club. He played 31 times in League 1 for Portsmouth last season.

With an earlier stint at MK Dons in total he has played 396 games in the Football League and will bring the kind of experience and knowhow that was in short supply last season at Gillingham.

“I am grateful to be working for Neil and Dave again and excited for the opportunity,” said the Irishman.

“We had a great relationship at Millwall, I really enjoyed working with him, I like his philosophies on how he builds the team in terms of character and professionalism within the ranks and I wanted to be part of that again.”

Williams will hope to go about his business this season without too much fuss admitting “I don’t want any headlines,” adding: “I like to go under the radar and hopefully I can show that on the pitch.”

The Gills returned for pre-season training on Wednesday and will have their first outing infront of fans on Saturday, July 2, when they head to Folkestone Invicta.

He said: “It is nice to have the time off but the routine of going training and seeing the lads every day and working hard, learning new things, that is the norm for me over the last x amount of years, I am looking forward to getting going.”