Gillingham goalkeeper and current player of the year Simon Royce has signed a new one-year deal at Priestfield, keeping him at the club for the Gills crucial 2008-09 season.

Gills Manager Mark Stimson could not hide his delight at the news that the vastly experienced keeper had put pen to paper: "I'm delighted with Simon's decision.  He's going to be a vital player for us next season and one that we will need to help get this club back to where we want to be".

The Gills gaffer held what he described as "very positive talks" with the Gillingham squad at Priestfield yesterday.  Stimson confirmed "the players all want to get on board" and was keen to reassure supporters that Gills team captain Andrew Crofts and highly rated defender Simon King have both committed themselves to the challenge of getting the club back to where it belongs".

Stimson revealed that he is already finding the close season a struggle to cope with and that he "Can't wait to get the players back in to training in June and get on with the job"