Going nowhere!
GILLS NOT LOOKING TO CASH IN ON YOUNG GUNS
It will take big money to persuade Gillingham to part with their prized assets. Interest in young defensive pair Jack Tucker and Connor Ogilvie hasn’t gone away and teenage keeper Joe Walsh has also attracted attention. Boss Steve Evans insists nobody is going anywhere unless big bucks are on offer. The deadline for transferring contracted players is tomorrow night (Friday) at 11pm.
Speaking on Tuesday, Evans said: “There has been interest and I have spoken to the chairman (about it). “I have always said every player is available for a set figure but nobody has reached a figure for any of them. They haven’t come close, (so) they are not going to go.
”There has been a lot of interest in Connor, and there has with Jack, but neither of them are going anywhere. “We don’t want to lose any of those kids. We are trying to build something.” Gillingham turned down an offer for Tucker before handing him a new contract. Evans was hoping to have tied up deals for a couple of new recruits before the deadline – the club have been heavily linked with Wolves winger Jordan Graham – while one or two could be heading in the opposite direction.
Defender Lee Hodson has rarely featured since his summer move while Bradley Garmston hasn’t kicked a ball in the Football League under Evans.
“We are just trying to make sure the balance is right and that the quality within the squad is improving,” Evans said.
“You have to look at the lads (who aren’t playing) as well. If they have a definite option to go somewhere else then if it was my son I would want him playing.
“We are trying to be so careful that we get our ins and outs right so that we have a full balance in the squad as we go forward.” Evans has already offloaded Ouss Cisse, decided against offering Mark Marshall fresh terms and agreed to send Bournemouth striker Mikael Ndjoli back.
The Gills are without a game this weekend as scheduled opponents Bury were expelled from the league at the end of August. “It’s been full on for the players and the break really does come at a great time,” Evans said.