Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth has vowed to rebuild his squad “the right way” – insisting the club will not be drawn into reckless spending.
Ainsworth is preparing for a busy summer after releasing 14 players at the end of a poor campaign.
But he made it clear any recruitment drive will be built on sustainability rather than trying to compete financially with bigger-spending rivals.
“This isn’t going to be easy,” he admitted.
“There’s players coming out now [on released lists] that we know. It’s [about] sifting through the lists.
“There’ll be some bigger clubs than us – even in the Conference – that can pay big money.
“You’ve seen what MK Dons did this year. They went crazy on money.
“If you get the Saudi investors, or you get some crazy investor who can just go and unsustainably do that, then fair enough.
“It’s tough on the other clubs. I think they’re trying to bring rules in to eventually stop that.”
Chairman Brad Galinson has pumped millions into the club, but three-and-a-half years since taking over, the Gills are still in League 2.
Ainsworth praised the Galinsons for their backing and reiterated his commitment to working within sensible limits.
“The Galinsons have been absolutely fantastic for this football club,” he said.
“They’ve put so much money in to save the club first, and then to run the club, that it’s unfair to go, ‘Oh, go and give us Saudi Arabia money. Go and give us that money’. It’s not fair.
“We’re going to do this sustainably. I think that’s one of the reasons I was targeted [as manager] because we don’t overspend. We can’t. I don’t want to.
“I want to get bang for my buck. That’s going to be important in the summer.
“Brad and Shannon watch every minute [of the games] from the States. I’m proud to be their manager. Their support has been sensational for me this season with what I’ve been through.”
With only 13 senior pros left at the club after the post-season cull, Ainsworth knows there is little time to rest this summer.
“I’m not going away too much, believe me,” he said.
“I’ve got a couple of trips planned. I’m a very average golfer, so I’m going on a little golf trip and then I’ve got a week away with my lovely wife. That’s about it.
“The staff will be together. We might go away somewhere for a few days, which will be important, talking about what we’re going to do, and, really, it’s full blast when we get back in.
“We’ve got a short pre-season because the World Cup’s shifted everything, and that first game [of the season] is the League Cup, which is going to be interesting.
“I’m excited already. But I’ve got to sign a few players first.”
