Gillingham's first choice goalkeeper Simon Royce has ended weeks of speculation by signing a new one year contract to keep him at the club for the 2009/10 season.

The vastly experienced 37 year-old has made 81 league and cup appearances for the Gills since arriving on loan from QPR at the end of the 2006/07 season.

He made the move permanent in July 2007 and became an instant hit with supporters who voted him Player of the Season for 2007/08.

Royce continued his outstanding form again last year keeping 20 clean sheets as Gillingham secured an instant return to League One.

The Gills play-off victory must have tasted especially sweet for the experienced keeper who not only made his debut at Wembley Stadium but marked the moment with yet another clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Shrewsbury.

Gillingham's squad return to pre-season training this morning and Simon Royce will be one of five players putting pen to paper on new one year contracts.

Highly rated striker Andy Pugh has signed a new one year deal and will be hoping to push for a place in the first team squad this season.

His regular reserve team strike partner Luis Cumbers has agreed a one year contract extension for the 2009/10 season while promising young defender Tom Wynter has also accepted a similar deal.

They are joined by attacking midfielder Luke Rooney who will sign his first professional deal for the club after graduating from the youth team last season.