Bristol Rovers snatched Chris Dickson from under the noses of Gillingham before the weekend and manager Mark Stimson admitted it was tough news to take.

Stimson has been chasing Dickson (pictured) ever since the forward ended his loan stint with the Gills in December 2007. Dickson ended that campaign as top scorer with 11 goals.

Gillingham and Charlton have spent the last few months locked in a war of words over Dickson’s future.

After failing to agree a deal the striker eventually joined Rovers on Thursday and marked his debut on Saturday with two goals.

Stimson said: "It’s a big loss for us not to get him but that’s part and parcel of the game. I don’t think it helps that we are so close to one another on the map and being their rivals.

"The kid wanted to play football and it’s sod’s law that he scored two goals on Saturday.

"We know he is going to score goals but we didn’t get him. We have to move on and we have to concentrate on the players we’ve got.

"I spoke to his advisors and tried to find out the facts of it but it was really messy in the end.

"At the end of the day, the kid wants to play football. We wish Chris all the best where he is playing."