Gillingham midfielder Nicky Southall believes the Gills have the character to be promotion contenders in League Two.

The Gills were relegated after the 2-1 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road but Southall believes there were plenty of positives to take from recent performances for next season: "It wasn't nice for us.  The writing had been on the wall for the last few weeks.  We tried ever so hard and to still have a chance of staying up on the last day was fantastic.  Every one of us out there fought tooth and nail to try and get the victory that we needed.  We played really well in front of a very biased crowd.  The words that the Chairman said earlier in the season made their crowd even more up for it.  We gave a good account of ourselves and I don't think we deserved to lose.  I had a good chance late on and I'm not sure if the ball crossed the line or not.  It was unfortunate that it happened when their left back came up and hit a fantastic volley.  That had been happening to us in recent weeks.  There are a lot of positives to come from the game and if we can take our form from recent weeks into the first few games of next season, we'll be okay."

The Gills will be amongst the favourites for League Two but Southall expects another tough season in a tough league: "League Two is going to be a difficult league.  There are a lot of small grounds and quite a few games up north!  It won't be easy and teams that come up from the Conference, they tend to take that promotion into the start of the following season.  We have got some good games, the likes of Luton and Bournemouth again and a local derby against Dagenham & Redbridge.  It is a new challenge for us and we have got to bounce back and show how much character we have got in the dressing room.  I think we have got good character and with the gaffer strengthening the squad in the summer, we'll be up there."

Southall has one more year on his contract and the midfielder admits he is enjoying his football especially as he has been playing in his favourite position during the run-in: "I have got one more season left on my contract and I am still enjoying playing football.  The last ten games have seen me back in my natural position and I think it has got the best out of me.  I'm really enjoying my football and it's just a shame we couldn't stay in League One.  This is my second relegation with the Gills and nobody likes relegation.  I obviously had the two trips to Wembley with the Gills.  We have had a good following this season but we were where we were because we deserved to be there over the 46 games.  You have to be honest with yourself and everyone has to be honest with each other, we paid the price on the last day of the season."

The KRBS Priestfield Stadium hosted a Help for Heroes charity football match on Sunday and Southall, who played 75 minutes, was honoured to be chosen for the Chelsea All Star XI against the Royal Engineers: "It was such an important day for the Armed Forces and the soldiers that fight for this country and put their lives on the line for us back home.  We take it for granted to be honest and we forget that there are wars going on in other countries whilst we're at home with our families.  They spend a long time in hot and terrible conditions and they are a fantastic bunch of lads who are brave men to go out to these places.

"Guy Whittingham and Steve Butler both scored and they were both in the Army.  They then left the Forces and became professional footballers.  It was great that they both scored and I am sure most of the fans enjoyed the match."