Gills manager Peter Taylor has questioned why Grimsby Town’s boss has been talking about one of his players.

Grimsby’s Paul Hurst was asked earlier this week whether Gills striker Adam Birchall would fit the bill in his search for forward talent.

Birchall is available for loan, having found himself down the pecking order at Gillingham, and has already spent time in the same division as Grimsby while playing for Dartford earlier this season.

Town boss Paul Hurst suggested the former prolific Dover front-man would “fit the bill” at his club, when asked by the Grimsby Telegraph about a possible move for the Gills player.

Hurst said: "He has certainly scored goals in the past. He had a hell of a season at Dover before he went to Gillingham."

But Taylor wasn’t happy with his player being talked about in public by the Skrill Premier side.

He said: “I am surprised about anyone who comes out and says that about a contracted player of another club.”

When asked if the reply to the question posed could have been handled better, Taylor said: “I would suggest that his answer (to a question) should be, ‘Adam Birchall is a contracted player at Gillingham Football Club’.”

The Gills boss added: “I am sure Adam would be of interest to clubs there (in the Skrill Premier), in League 2 and in League 1.

“At the moment he is getting his head down, doing well and training hard.”

Birchall played for Gillingham’s development side on Tuesday afternoon against Dagenham.

The striker, however, wouldn’t rule a move out to a club like Grimsby.

“I’m 29 now and I want to be playing as many games as I can so I know that I need to go elsewhere in order for me to do that,” he told the Grimsby Telegraph.

“Obviously if a phone call came my way from Grimsby then it’s definitely something I’d be interested in. It is a massive club that shouldn’t be in the league they’re in.”

Birchall has recently returned from a loan spell at Dartford but a deal to go to Woking fell through earlier this month.

“I was flying in pre-season and I’m certainly back to where I need to be now fitness-wise,” said Birchall.

“No disrespect to Dartford but I didn’t really fit into their style of play so now it’s a case of finding the right manager and the right team for me to fit in to.”