Gillingham’s summer transfer budget has already been exceeded.

Gills boss Martin Allen has added a handful of new recruits to his squad but must now off-load others before making any more major signings.

Chairman Paul Scally revealed that Gillingham’s recent arrivals have ‘maxed out’ their spending power.

Mr Scally said: “We have to move players out, out on loan or out permanently, then we might be able to do more.

“But right now, we are banged up on our budget but we have got a good squad of players right now.”

Arriving in the last two months at Priestfield have been Cody McDonald, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Antonio German and Amine Linganzi.

Boss Allen, meanwhile, has been busy trying to free up some funds, having transfer listed both Charlie Lee and Adam Birchall last month.

Lee has been in talks with Southend but no move is so far forthcoming.
“We are over budget already and he (Lee) is one of the highest paid players, if not the highest paid player,” admitted the Gills chairman, who paid “substantial money” for the midfielder two years ago to Peterborough.

“We would be more than happy to keep Charlie but he has not done it on the pitch, which is where he is judged.”