Andy Barcham admits the lure of League 1 football was an offer too good to miss as a move to Scunthorpe ended his three-year spell at Gillingham.

The midfielder heads north after signing a two-year deal with the club who were relegated from the Championship last season.

But the 25-year-old, who spent much of last season on the treatment table, admits quitting the Gills was not in his plans.

He said: "At the end of the season I had no other intention but to play for Gillingham.

"I was out of contract and because of that, clubs were allowed to talk to me.

"I was settled and enjoying my football. I was looking forward after my injury to crack on for next season but because I was out of contract, I was able to hear these offers.

"It was flattering to get the offers, especially as I didn’t have the season I had intended to for the majority of it.

"It was nice to have people still interested in me, especially a club like Scunthorpe.

"It is a fantastic opportunity and it was too good to turn down."

Barcham joined the Gills in September 2008 after failing to make the step up from reserve- team football at Tottenham.

He added: "I always intended to work my way back up and I am sure everyone would be the same.

"You need that ambition to go forward. The last thing I would want to do would be to look back when I am older and think ‘what if?’

"It will take time to settle in but I think it is a risk worth taking."