Dack remains with Gills
Gillingham
In-form Tonbridge face a different test on Sunday when they visit Ascot United in the FA Cup. Angels have made a flying start in the Ryman League, Premier Division, winning five of their first six games. They start as hot favourites against the Hellenic League side but manager Steve McKimm knows better than to underestimate Ascot. He said: “It’s another tricky one, against a team in a lower league but in the FA Cup all form goes out of the window. “We’ve done our homework on them. We’ve had them watched twice so we’re not going to go there lightly. “Forget the form we’re in and the form they’re in because it’s a one-off game and everyone wants to do well in the FA Cup. “The players have got to keep their standards up. You can’t just turn it on and off when you’re playing someone you feel you should beat. “The board have backed me in everything I’ve done since I’ve been at the club and I’d like to reward them with a cup run, starting on Sunday.” Tommy Whitnell (groin) and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson (hip) are injury doubts for the trip to Berkshire but McKimm will not make sweeping changes to the team doing so well in the league. Only a stoppage-time goal denied Tonbridge victory at Met Police last Saturday and they followed up that 1-1 draw by beating Billericay 1- 0 on Monday, with Nathan Elder scoring in both games. McKimm’s side have only conceded two goals in the opening month of the season and that fine record could easily be even better. He said: “They scored in injury-time in the second game of the season and on Saturday against Met Police. We should really be sitting with six clean sheets.” Bradley Dack will be a Gillingham player for at least another four months.
Last season’s star player was expected to be leaving the Gills before the transfer window closed on Wednesday night.
Championship side Brighton were among those believed to have been interested in the 22-year-old but no deal was struck.
It means Dack, subject of a big money offer from Bristol City six months ago, will be part of the Gills team challenging for promotion until at least January, when the window reopens.
Boss Justin Edinburgh was hopeful that the midfielder would be staying and he got his wish, along with a new player, as the Gills bagged Bournemouth’s promising young defender Baily Cargill on a half-season loan before the transfer deadline.
Central defender Cargill, who can also fill in at left-back, joins until January. He has yet to play in the league for Bournemouth but has had experience in cup competitions and out on loan, including a short spell at Coventry last season.
He is expected to go straight into the squad for Sunday’s match against Sheffield United.
Edinburgh said: “We always said we wanted to add quality to the squad when bringing in players and Baily ticks that box.
“He will prove to be an extremely important signing for Gillingham and I’m delighted to secure his loan signing.
“As ever, I’d like to thank the chairman and Keith Burt, our director of football, for their support and work in bringing him into the club.”
Striker Joe Quigley, who was also on loan from Bournemouth before injury ended his stay, tweeted: “What a player you’re getting!”
The Gills boss was hoping to add another striker to his squad, to help fill the void left by the injury sustained by Quigley but was left frustrated. Despite the lack of additions up front, the boss believes he has enough to cope.
He said: “I feel we have enough firepower in the team to win football matches still. There is no point bringing someone in for the sake of it to make the numbers up.
“It has to be someone who improves us but finding a striker who will do that, at this time of year, is difficult. We tried.”
The Gills won 3-2 at Shrewsbury last Saturday with goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (2) and Max Ehmer despite trailing 2-0 at half-time.
They lost 2-1 at home to Luton in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night.