Gills boss Peter Taylor is closing in on defensive recruits.

Taylor has so far signed a goalkeeper and a handful of players whose main positions are in midfield.

Josh Pritchard joined on Tuesday and follows other newcomers Doug Loft, Jermaine McGlashan and Aaron Morris into Priestfield.

The Gills had the second worst defensive record in League 1 last season and Taylor knows he needs to strengthen.

He said: “We still haven’t finished with our signings and we are trying to get as many options as we can and then play some different systems, that’s how we are planning it.

“Ideally, we would love to have two players for every position by the time we start pre-season but I am not sure we are going to be as successful as that, but we shouldn’t be far away.

“People will appreciate that at the minute the signings we have made have really been more midfield players than anything else. But I am sure people will realise that we are after defenders and we are talking to plenty of people.

“We are getting close on some deals and then not so close on others. I am sure by the early part of pre-season we will have some defenders in.”

Having competition for places and strength in depth will be crucial.

“What I can’t afford is to just say I only want one player just to play in each position,” said the Gills boss.

“We have just signed a fantastic right winger in McGlashan but what if he then gets injured? You have to be careful with what you do.”