Gillingham defender Simon King insists he does not mind the club's early return to pre-season training ahead of the new campaign.Manager Mark Stimson has begun sessions twice a week before full pre-season at the start of July as he looks to get his recently-relegated squad firing on all cylinders for the start of the new season.

Centre-back King, who came second in the club's Player of the Year award last season, believes it is advantageous for the players to be together.

He told Sky Sports News: "We don't mind. We had four weeks in May to have a little rest and recuperate.

"In professional football you normally start doing a bit in June anyway so it just means we're all coming together so that's good.

"It's just to generally open up the lungs again. On Tuesday it was a bit of a longer run but on Thursday it's been more agility work, short sprints and getting your feet going again. It's a bit of a blow, but we don't mind."

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