Hessenthaler's Gills lost their final game 3-1 to champions Chesterfield

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler does not believe his job is under threat even though his side missed out on promotion this season.

When the Gills were relegated from League One 12 months ago, chairman Paul Scally stated that nothing less than promotion would be good enough.

But Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "I've got a three-year deal and we'll try to get promoted in that time.

"We tried this year, we made the bold statement as we believed we could."

The Gills boss, whose side finished just one place outside the play-offs in eighth, added: "It's always tough to bounce back after the negativity of last year and it takes time.

The pressure will be on even more now because we'll be into my second year Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler

"If chairmen go down the road of keep changing their managers - I don't think it works.

"I don't think it's been the worst season in the world."

But Hessenthaler admitted that fans' expectation will be even greater next season.

"The pressure will be on even more now because we'll be into my second year," he said.

"We want to get promoted - we're not in it to do anything else other than to try and be successful.

"Me, the chairman, the players, the fans want to be successful.

"When you're not it's difficult and you're disappointed, but it does take time."

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