Doug Loft refused to be drawn on whether he will be taking the captain’s armband this coming season.

Loft captained Port Vale to promotion in 2013 and was skipper as the Valiants finished last season ninth in League 1.

He has captained the Gills on every appearance during pre-season, including the full 90 minutes against Ipswich.

But the 27-year-old said: “I was just asked to be captain at the beginning of (Saturday’s) game and I just carried on. You can’t read anything into that.”

If Loft does get the captaincy, he will replace Adam Barrett, who led the Gills on the field as they won League 1 ahead of Port Vale in 2013. He remained skipper after Peter Taylor took over from Martin Allen as manager last season.

Kent-born Loft looks set to be a regular starter for the Gills this season and he has enjoyed the role of captain before.

“It is a big job and I did it for a few seasons at Vale, when they got promoted and during a good season last year,” he said.

“I enjoy it. But we have a lot of leaders in our dressing room, with Ads (Barrett), Keds (Kedwell) and myself. There are lots out there shouting and helping all the boys, it’s not just one person.

“I try and shout and organise people and people may notice that a lot but I think we have a lot more voices throughout the team. I definitely think we will be a better team than last season, I am 100% sure of that.”

Read the full interview in Monday's Medway Messenger