Gillingham manager Neil Harris is in no panic over new signings.

While some clubs are making their move in the market quickly, the Gills are having to be patient and Harris has accepted it will take time.

A number of players are in discussions with the Gills, with up to 15 needed this summer, but as yet none have got over the line.

Harris said: “I know fans are desperate, they hear me talk about passion and drive and energy and who are we going to get? It is going to take all summer.

“I am very impatient person, especially with football, I want my players in for the start of pre-season if possible but I have to accept it is not going to happen.

“We have to cut our cloth accordingly and wait for agents to stop playing games and try and get players in. If we can just add over the coming weeks that would be brilliant but realistically we know we are going to have to wait for four or five until probably July.

“We would like to do our business early but is that realistic? I have got my head around that if I have a group of 12-14 on June 22 in the building [when the players report back for pre-season training] that I really want that is a really good start and then still working towards four or five, or six.

“We also have the ability to take lads in over the course of pre-season to have a look at them and for them to look at us.”

In recent seasons the Gills have been busy in the summer transfer window but none of their 10 new signings last year arrived before June.

Talks have been positive with players since the 2021/22 campaign ended but Harris won’t get all of his top picks. He’s got lists of first choice, second and possibly third in different areas.

He said: “There was one player we got close to, but it is very unlikely it will happen now, fair play to that player, he had offers elsewhere but if a player goes to a higher level or for better money you can’t control it.

“If I lose out to a rival for the same money, that would upset me, if you lose for money or location, you just have to accept it.”

Gillingham have seven contracted players, a couple of whom Harris would like to move on.

But those unfancied players could still play a part, with Harris saying: “I am very aware of contractual law and players under contract, it has to work for everyone for players to move on.

“I am very honest with my players, we have straight conversations.

"If the players are here then I will work with the players to make them better, whether they play or don’t play they will get treated correctly while they are here, but you have to be honest with players. If I don’t see them being in the eleven or in the plans you have to let them know so they can get on with their careers.

“If they are here, absolutely fine, I am not going to go in to names, it is only one or two, we will see what the coming weeks hold.”

Harris has already said he will be putting a lot of effort into getting the right characters into the club.

“I always say I wasn’t always the best player on the pitch but I had the best mentality,” he said. “I need my players to come with the right character and mentality and if we have any chance of competing and challenging next year we are going to have to have a top group of lads.”

Some players looking for new clubs this summer, and possibly on Gills' radar, have still been in action recently.

Port Vale won the League 2 play-off final on Saturday against Mansfield Town and just one spot remains to be claimed for next season in the EFL’s bottom tier.

Solihull Moors will play Grimsby Town at the London Stadium on Sunday for a place in the EFL. They will join Stockport County in winning promotion from the National League, in the play-off final.