Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler will offer the hand of friendship to Crawley counterpart Steve Evans when the clubs meet at Priestfield on Tuesday.

The last meeting between the sides, on Boxing Day, ended in controversy with Evans accusing Hessenthaler of racism before quickly withdrawing the claim.

Hessenthaler, pictured, has not spoken to Evans since the incident but is prepared to forgive and forget ahead of the game.

"I have no problems with him," said Hessenthaler. "I am not a person who holds any grudges. I hope he wouldn’t either and we can be amicable, shake hands and move on.

"He wants to win a game of football – badly – and I want to win a game of football – badly. Things are said from the touchline between each other and it’s all part and parcel of the game.

"It was heat of the moment stuff and there is no animosity from my side. It will be another battle that I want to win and a battle he will want to win.

"We will have a beer after, no problems. I will shake his hand, of course. If he doesn’t want to shake my hand then fine but I will offer my hand to him because that’s the type of guy I am."