should be it

.publishignore

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# specifies files which will NOT be published to PS Gallery
+.*
+PesterTestResults.xml
+tools/*
+Tests/*
+img/*
+Docs/*.md
+cab/

tools/PublishModule.ps1

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ if (($Module.Version.ToString() -split '\.').Count -lt 3) {
 }
 
 # test if remote is not the same
+"Checking for module with version $($Module.Version) online..."
 if (Find-Module -Name $ModuleName -RequiredVersion ($Module.Version) -Repository PSGallery -ea 0) {
     throw 'Module with same version already exists'
 } else {
@@ -46,11 +47,20 @@ $Destination2 = Join-Path $Destination $ModuleName
 if (Test-Path $Destination2) {Remove-Item $Destination2 -Recurse -Force}
 Copy-Item -Path . -Destination $Destination -Recurse # it creates folder $ModuleName
 
-# remove not needed files (starting with dot and from .gitignore)
+# remove not needed files (as per .publishignore)
 "Removing not needed files"
-[string[]]$Exclude = (Get-Content '.gitignore')
-Get-ChildItem -Path $Destination2 -Recurse -Force | where Name -Match '^\.' | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
-Get-ChildItem -Path $Destination2 -Include $Exclude -Recurse -Force | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
+$pwdLength = $Destination2.Length + 1
+foreach ($line in (Get-Content '.publishignore'| where {$_ -notlike '#*'})) {
+    #"Checking files like $line"
+    foreach ($file in (Get-ChildItem -Path $Destination2 -Recurse -Force -File)) {
+        $relativeName = $file.FullName.Substring($pwdLength) -replace '\\','/'
+        #"$relativeName"
+        if ($relativeName -like $line) {
+            "Removing $relativeName"
+            Remove-Item $file.FullName -Recurse -Force
+        }        
+    } 
+}
 
 # publish
 Read-Host "All prerequisites check. Press Enter to Publish module or Ctrl+C to abort"