George Howard has taken over from Tommy Forecast as understudy to the club’s No.1 keeper.

Howard agreed terms with the Gills on a deal for the season after impressing boss Martin Allen with his performances in pre-season.

He will be Gillingham’s back-up to No.1 choice Stuart Nelson.

Allen said: “We needed a No.2 goalkeeper pretty quick. He came into train with us, just because I needed a goalkeeper in a game and I didn’t have one. He did OK.

“I found him through a local bloke in Gillingham, who recommended I had a look at him.

“The lad trained hard, lost some weight and got himself into a better physical condition. He then played for Bromley against us and made four or five fantastic saves, so we kept our eye on him.

“He continued to work on his body. He is a Gillingham boy, he is 19 and we needed a goalkeeper quick!

“We quickly signed him, and it’s probably one of the best things to have ever happened to him. Now if he works hard we will see what can come of it.”

Another young keeper, Tom Gowans, has agreed to stay with the Gills on a non-contract basis.

He said: “We will continue to train him and he is not getting paid. It’s like a college of football training for him. He is going to be with us in that capacity.”