GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has admitted for the first time that striker Marlon King will be allowed to leave Priestfield - for the right price.

With Norwich having expressed an interest on top of Nottingham Forest's £1 million bid a week ago, speculation is mounting that King's days at Priestfield are numbered.

Speaking after Saturday's 2-2 draw at Watford, the Gills boss confirmed: “Forest have made an offer and Norwich are interested.

“We can't afford to lose Marlon King. We need him here and we need him scoring goals. But every player has his price and if it was the right price then I'm sure the chairman would be interested because of the way the money is at the moment.

“For me, as the manager, it's important that I have enough money to bring somebody in to replace Marlon should he go. We'll have to wait and see. As far as I'm aware, the chairman has turned the Forest offer down.”

Gillingham would want well in excess of £1 million for King to compensate for the 20 per cent they must pay his former club, Barnet, on any profit made on the deal following his £250,000 move from Underhill in June, 2000.

King, who started a match for the first time in seven months at Watford following two appearances as substitute, not surprisingly looked way short of match fitness.