by Luke Cawdell

Mark Stimson ended an 18-month chase for Danny Jackman’s signature on Tuesday night.

Gillingham boss Stimson had wanted Jackman (pictured) ever since he starred in Northampton’s 4-0 win over the Gills in February 2008 – a result which sent his side into the bottom four.

The Gills were unable to claw their way out of the relegation zone after that game and Stimson tried to lure Jackman to Priestfield to help them regain their League 1 status. The deal never materialised but with Gillingham and Northampton swapping divisions in the summer it was game on for Stimson.

"We’ve been battering each other to death for the last six to eight weeks about it," said Stimson.

"The two chairmen have come to an agreement and it’s fantastic news.

"He’ll be appreciated by everybody because the biggest ingredient he has is his work ethic, it’s fantastic."

Hours after completing the paperwork on a three-year deal Jackman was at Priestfield and played 25 minutes of the second half against Blackburn.

Stimson said: "He hasn’t played for a few weeks because he has had a little knock and we just said we’ll put you on the team sheet.

"He is what I call a proper player because he knows the game and has great energy and looks as though he is up for the challenge.

"If he is up for starting on Saturday, he will start. He is someone who doesn’t want to go onto the pitch and not perform to the maximum but then again 75 per cent Danny Jackman would probably do me."

Stimson is also looking forward to pairing him up with 17-year-old Jack Payne in central midfield.

Stimson said: "They both know the game. The kid Payne is only 17 but we did a few bits in training where we had the players on the sidelines. We talked to them and asked them questions.

"A lot of players can come up with the right answers but you would be surprised because a lot can’t. The kid knows the game, he knows it inside out and he knows it better than some of our senior players.

"People might think I’m mad because they are both five foot each but it doesn’t matter for me.

"Somebody did say at the end in the warm-up we’ll have to change our song we come out to "high ho, high ho, it’s off to work we go" because we do have some tiny players now.

"Those two excite me though, they really do. Danny Jackman paired up with Jack Payne straight away on Tuesday and that was good to see."