GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler has dismissed as “newspaper talk” speculation linking Division 1 rivals Nottingham Forest with a £1m offer for striker Marlon King.

Forest manager Paul Hart was at Priestfield last week to watch 23-year-old King make his comeback for the reserves following a seven-month absence caused by damaged cruciate knee ligaments.

Also at the game was Rotherham’s Ronnie Moore who has nearly £1million to spend following the sale of striker Alan Lee to Cardiff.

Forest are reported to have tabled a £1m which the national press say chairman Paul Scally has rejected. Mr Scally is presently holidaying in Majorca and is not expected back until the end of the week.

But Gills boss Hessenthaler retorted: “The chairman is in Spain and so far as I’m concerned it’s newspaper talk. It’s surprised me really because the kid’s been out for a long time. Now the papers are saying that Forest have come in with an offer.

“I’ve spoken to the chairman and he knows nothing. The thing is that Marlon is not fully fit. He’s got to get back in the team and start scoring goals. It amazes me that a club would take that risk anyway. As I say, I’ve heard nothing. Let’s leave it at that.”

After losing key midfielder Simon Osborn to Walsall, the Gills boss would be devastated to lose King, whose presence is crucial to his ambition of qualifying for the play-offs.