Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler says that the playing budget for next season has been cut after his side failed to win promotion to League One.Since the Gills missed out on the League Two play-offs, Hessenthaler has released eight players and offered new deals to five others.
Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "The budget is not what it was, but we've got to work to it.
"Just because eight have gone out doesn't mean eight will come in."
The former Dover manager added: "I think we've got to be realistic, and the fans have to as well.
"The chairman's been honest and it's tough out there. We've got to stick to a budget.
"We obviously want to bring players in - eight have gone, there might be more than that go if the boys we've offered deals to decide not to stay."
Hessenthaler has given Adebayo Akinfenwa, Andy Barcham, Chris Palmer, Joe Martin and Kevin Maher until the end of the week to decide whether or not to accept the deals they have been offered.
He also confirmed that he is looking to bring a striker to Priestfield, but may look into the option of offering any new signing a performance-based contract.
"We've got to look for hungry players," said Hessenthaler.
"They're definitely out there - I think sometimes it's too easy for players not to play because they earn good contracts.
"For me I think contracts should be a little more incentive based - that keeps players hungrier to play."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport