Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is hoping to secure the signature of former Stevenage keeper Alan Julian by the weekened.

Several league clubs are chasing the 25-year-old after he quit Stevenage this week and Stimson was at the head of the queue.

Stimson said: “If we can persuade him to sign for us then that would be a big plus for the club.”

The Gills boss has been keen to secure competition for current player-of-the-year Simon Royce and feels the Northern Ireland keeper will do just that.

“He has been the best keeper in the Conference for the last three years but unfortunately he was under 24 and commanded a massive fee,” he added. “He’ll provide great competition, he’s young and he needs to make league appearances.”

Stimson let Kelvin Jack leave the Gills at the end of the season while Derek Stillie retired.