GILLINGHAM have boosted their strike-force ahead of the season opener with the signing of Paul Shields.

The forward arrives from Scottish second division side Forfar for £25,000 on a two-year contract.

Shields, 23, hit 29 goals for Forfar in his 67 league appearances and picked up the player of the year award last season.

Forfar recieved four or five offers over the last month for the Scottish striker, but knocked back several clubs including Grimsby Town as their bids fell way short of the Loons' expectations.

Celtic paid £100,000 for Shields in 2000 but he made just a single substitute appearance and was loaned out to Albion, Clydebank and Queen of the South.

Shields then spent five months at Clyde before moving to Forfar's Station Park two years ago.

After passing a medical on Wednesday Shields will now be in contention for a starting place against Colchester on Saturday as Gillingham open their League 1 campaign.

Gills boss Neale Cooper remains on the look-out for further signings, with the club also in contact with Inverness striker Steven Hislop at the start of the week.

SEE FRIDAY'S MEDWAY MESSENGER FOR A FULL PREVIEW AHEAD OF GILLINGHAM'S BIG LEAGUE 1 KICK OFF AGAINST COLCHESTER.