Gill hoping to add Birmingham to loan club list

Jerry Gill is looking to tie up a deal with former club Birmingham City to enable the Romans to take some players on loan from the Championship side.

Gill made 76 appearances for the Blues between 1997 and 2002 and was part of the side that reached the League Cup final 20 years ago.

The Bath City boss has been in contact with Birmingham loans manager Chris Curtis and under23s manager Steve Spooner about a potential link between the clubs.

“We have a really good relationship with our loan clubs and we’re looking to expand it,” said Gill.

“Clubs will approach us if we’re doing well by these players.

“I’ve taken in some great young professionals over the last three years. So many have gone back and got into their first teams like Opi and Owura Edwards and Antoine Semenyo or moved on loan elsewhere for now.

“Tommy Conway’s done brilliantly for us. The boys we’ve had from Bristol City have been good characters.

“Josh Owers has got his dad’s trait of getting around the pitch and being competitive and is physically developing.”

Owers’ father Gary arrived as manager five years ago this week and started the trend of successful loanees at Twerton Park, with Liam Kelly, Max O’leary and Luke Southwood excelling before establishing themselves at higher levels.

Gill continued the trait with last season’s regulars Alex Hartridge and Noah Chilvers now appearing frequently in League Two at Exeter City and Colchester United respectively, and James Morton recently reunited with former teammate Robbie Cundy at Gillingham, both on loan from Bristol City.

Morton made 54 appearances for Bath across two spells on loan from the Robins, with Cundy cleaning up the club’s end of season awards in 2019 having arrived a year earlier from Gloucester.

“What a success story Robbie was,” said Gill.

“We’re really proud that we were part of his development. He’s probably the quickest developer I’ve seen in terms of form and physical stature.

“We’ve made some good money on players who have gone into the Football League, like Miles Welchhayes, and we’re really proud they’ve done on to have good careers.

“It’s proven to be a good business model for us.”