GILLINGHAM old boy Steve Banks has solved the club’s goalkeeping crisis by signing a two-and-a-half year deal with the club.

The 32-year-old, who was at Wimbledon on a non-contract basis, signed on Thursday night after on-loan Lars Hirschfeld was recalled by Tottenham.

With Jason Brown and Bertrand Bossu both injured and Vince Bartram retired, Gills faced going to Preston this weekend without a senior keeper. But Andy Hessenthaler moved quickly to plug the gap.

He said: “I am delighted Steve has agreed to join us again. We know all about his ability, probably more from the games he played against us in recent years than from the time he played for us.

“He will be a great addition to the squad, not just by solving our immediate problem but in the longer term as well.” Banks made 76 appearances for Gills during his first spell between 1993-1995 before moving north.

Banks will be Gills’ sixth keeper to fill the void this season following Brown, Bartram, Bossu, Birmingham’s Nico Vaesen and Spurs’ Hirschfeld.

The Gills are definately without 12 first team players and the KM Group's chief football writer Tony Hudd told KM-fm there is another doubt for Hessenthaler...