Manager Steve Evans has spoken of his desperation to improve the Gills squad ahead of the transfer deadline.

Evans want at least another two players in before Friday night after his team closed to within six points of the play-off places on Wednesday night.

Speaking after the 2-0 win over Shrewsbury, he said: “We are in the mix and I desperately want the chairman to do a couple of things for us.

“I have to respect the finances which he lays down, we have to try and make some room (in the budget).

“If it is not (going to happen) I won’t complain at his door, he has been brilliant since the day I walked in, but we have 16 or 17 players, other than Tommy O’Connor (who has been suffering a short-term injury) we have nobody else we can pick.

“I just want him to do one or two little bits for us. If we can do it we will be really ready.

“If we don’t then (we’ll see) the nature of Evans and Raynor and all the boys in the dressing room, who deserve all the credit. We get in the trenches and we fight. We are in the mix and it’s squeeky bum time!”

Reports in Scotland say that the Gills have tried to bring Celtic's teenage winger Karamoko Dembele to the club on loan, but the move has been rejected.

Evans knows the Dembele family well, having worked with Karamoko's brother Siriki Dembélé at Peterborough, a player he signed.

One player he has let leave is defender Lee Hodson, allowing him to move back up to Scotland for the rest of the season.

Evans, speaking to Gills' media team, said: “He has been an absolute top class professional.

“He has been in my office and he has been hurting but not complaining, not moaning, because he knows that Barry has done well in his prefered position. Two or three clubs came in.”

It left Evans with just six players to choose from the substitutes’ bench on Wednesday.

Bradley Garmston is fit and remains on the club’s books but isn’t in Evans’ plans.

More on the Gills;

• Evans: We don’t want to lose our kids

• Young striker leaves GIlls for non-league side
• Like a rugby match! Beaten boss has his say
• Former Gills player hospitalised with multiple injuries
• Wolves winger linked with Priestfield move