ANDY HESSENTHALER is on the verge of committing his long-term future to Gillingham by signing a new three-year contract.

The club’s player-manager disclosed after Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup, fourth round defeat at Burnley that talks with chairman Paul Scally were at an advanced stage.

He confirmed: “I have sat down with the chairman and spoken about the future. I am very close to signing a new deal.

“It’s just a matter of getting the contract drawn up and signing it. I am pleased he wants me to stay because we have made a few signings recently and now that I have bought them to the club I want to be around to see them gell.

“I want to see the club push on and would like to be a part of that. Hopefully, the deal will take in the rest of this season plus another three.

“I’m pleased with that because it’s security for me and my family. I’m confident we can finish in the top half this season and push on in the 2004-05 season.”

The Gravesend-born midfielder, who will be 39 on June 17, is expected to hang up his boots at the end of this season and concentrate purely on management.