Gillingham chairman Paul Scally backs boss Mark Stimson

Stimson's side have lost 12 of their 14 away games in League One this season

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally says he has full confidence in manager Mark Stimson, despite labelling the team 'woeful' after their FA Cup exit.

Scally made the comment on the club's website after the defeat by Accrington.

Scally told BBC Radio Kent: "I have huge regard for Mark as manager and coach. I feel for him, he's had key players injured.

"I have no problem with Mark, if I did I wouldn't have allowed him to sign three new players this week."

Gillingham have not won on their travels this season and Stimson says he will take the criticism of fans on the chin.

"I've never had their backing really but that isn't a problem," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"Just as long as the players have got their support. I've always said that there's only one person who's backing I need and that's the chairman's."

Some fans have been calling for Stimson to go following Tuesday's defeat by Accrington but he stressed Scally was committed to helping him freshen up the squad with the loan signings of striker Rene Howe, winger Tristan Plummer, and defender Darren Dennehy.

When players go out there and don't give 100% that gets to me and it gets to the supporters

Mark Stimson

"We've worked extremely hard over the last few days," said Stimson.

"He's backed me 100% with these players coming in. I can't ask any more from him and I don't think he can ask any more from me because he knows how I work.

"We're now just asking the players to give us the same and they didn't do that the other night and that was the most disappointing thing.

"If we'd have been beaten because we played well then I'd hold my hands up. But when players go out there and for some reason don't give 100% that gets to me and it gets to the supporters."

Stimson, 42, has had a turbulent relationship with many Gills fans since his arrival at Priestfield in November 2007, but he seemed to silence his critics by winning promotion back to League One last May.

"There were 35,000 at Wembley, and we average 5,000 or 6,000 (at Priestfield) so the other 30,000 who turned up at Wembley were with me because they'd only seen me that day and we won. If we'd had lost they would have booed me," he joked.

Defeat against Colchester on Saturday could see Gillingham drop into the relegation zone.