A baby-boom at Gillingham hastened the need for boss Andy Hessenthaler to snap up out-of-contract left-back Joe Martin.

The former Tottenham and West Ham youngster, pictured, was released by Blackpool at the end of last season after playing a handful of Championship matches on the Tangerines' journey towards the Premier League.

He agreed terms on a non-contract deal with the Gills on Thursday afternoon, despite interest from a number of other clubs including League 1 Dagenham, and will go straight into the squad for Saturday's trip to Macclesfield.

Loan left-back Callum Kennedy returned to Swindon this week and Gills could be weakened further at any moment with the partners of both Danny Jackman and John Nutter expecting babies. Another left-sided player, Chris Palmer, is out injured.

Martin, son of West Ham legend Alvin, has been training with the Gills for the past fortnight and Hessenthaler was impressed with the 22-year-old and has snapped him up until January, with a view to making the move longer in the new year.

Because he has not registered with a club previously this season, he was eligible to join the Gills outside of the transfer window.

Hessenthaler said: “(The partners of) John and Danny are both expecting babies at any time. Joe has been training with us for a few weeks and we like the look of him. It’s competition for places.”

Hessenthaler, meanwhile, hasn’t given up hope on extending the loans of Peterborough pair Chris Whelpdale and Charlie Lee.

Both are due to head back to Peterborough after the Macclesfield game and Hessenthaler said: “I think Peterborough are waiting on a couple of situations themselves with the players they’ve got on loan and we’ll know a bit more maybe before the weekend or after the game. I think the lads would like to stay.

“Peterborough have been kind to let us have them and they have been great for us. If they have to go back it’s a shame but they aren’t our players and we have to get on with it.”