Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler has insisted that this season will not be seen as a failure if they are unable to make the League Two play-offs.Gills travel to leaders Chesterfield needing at least a draw, and for either Torquay or Stevenage to lose, if they are to make the play-offs.
At the start of season chairman Paul Scally said he expected to get promoted straight back to League One this year.
But Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "I'm not sure it'll be a failure."
He added: "We'll be very disappointed - don't get me wrong. I think it was the start of the season that's perhaps let us down.
If it doesn't happen this year, we've had a fantastic second half, we'll rebuild in the summer and have a right go at it next year
Andy Hessenthaler
"We started the first couple of months very slowly - whether that was a case of the hangover of going down, myself coming back, or a lot of injuries.
"We will be disappointed because we made the statement we wanted to bounce back straight away - and rightly so. We've got to be positive, there's no point in being negative."
Hessenthaler believes that Scally will continue to support him even if results do not go their way this weekend.
He said: "The chairman's been fantastic - he's gone on record to say the second half of the season has been a massive positive.
"If we don't go and do it then he's quite happy with the way we've turned things around and we'll rebuild in the summer, and we'll have another crack at it next season."
Hessenthaler appealed to the fans to stick with him whatever happens on Saturday, adding: "It does take time sometimes and I think it needs a little patience sometimes in life.
"The chairman's been very patient and I'm sure he will be for the next few years.
"He knows we're all after the same thing, but it's a collective effort. It's not just about one individual, it's about a group of people - players, managers coaches and fans - that can only achieve that.
"If it doesn't happen this year, we've had a fantastic second half, we'll rebuild in the summer and have a right go at it next year."
BBC Radio Kent will have full match commentary of Chesterfield v Gillingham on 96.7 and 104.2 FM
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport