Gillingham are locked in talks with defender Joe Martin over a new contract at the club.

Boss Martin Allen is keen to have the left-back on board for next season as the Gills look to mount a challenge in League 1.

Martin was offered a new contract at the end of last year but nothing has so far been agreed.

He was voted Gillingham’s players’ player-of-the-year at the end of the season and was also named in the League 2 team of the year.

Allen said: “That is still being negotiated and I am still speaking with his agent and the chairman.

“Joe has just been voted players’ player-of-the-year, not only from the players at our club, but also from the players at all the other clubs in the league. You couldn’t really get a bigger accolade than being player of the year from your own players.

“I do hope we can try and persuade Joe to sign a new contract.”

Allen also confirmed that midfielder Charlie Allen has already signed for another season, with the club taking up an option of another year over the Easter period.

The Gills boss, meanwhile, is keen to clinch a permanent deal for young forward Harry Grant, who has been given a free by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Grant played in the final day defeat at Burton.

Allen is expected to hand out deals once he returns from a break and meets with chairman Paul Scally.

He said: "We will go over the budgets and have a look at things more closely and then see what offers we can make."

Read more on the Gills in this week's Medway Messenger newspaper.

Pictures: Barry Goodwin