VETERAN striker Iwan Roberts could take up a playing and coaching role at Gillingham next season.

The Welsh international has been sounded out by Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler about a role at the club and is due at Prietstfield for talks next week.

Roberts, who turns 36 in June, was at Watford with Hessenthaler from 1988 to 1990 and is keen to branch out into coaching.

He said: "I know a lot of people at Gillingham and I have always got on well with Andy Hessenthaler.

"He just needs someone with a bit of experience up front because that's where they were lacking something last season and he wants me to work with the younger players.

"I have heard what they have to say and it was very interesting -well worth thinking about."

Roberts scored eight league goals for Norwich this season as they raced to the Division 1 title. But he was released by the Canaries at the end of the season after seven years at Carrow Road.

He has also been linked with a return to his native Wales to take up a player-coaching role with Swansea City.

Gillingham are the front runners for his signature, though, and Roberts believes he still has something to offer the Gills on the pitch as well as off it.

He said: "I still want to play as many games as I can next season because I feel I can still do a job. And I believe Gillingham might be able to give me that opportunity."