Gillingham boss Neil Harris admits landing Cheltenham striker Alfie May would be a long-shot - and now another club have entered the race.

Harris was trying to remain respectful to May’s parent club Cheltenham but admits it’s a topic that he’s been asked about wherever he goes. It’s understood the Gills have made a substantial offer for the 30-year-old goal-getter but that it’s been turned down.

Gillingham striker with a big challenge ahead

The Gills were reportedly ‘clear favourites’ to sign the forward last week and Harris was quizzed about a possible move before training commenced on Monday.

Harris joked: “I have been asked about that from every person I have seen in the street, the fella at the petrol station who got out of the car wash and the woman who asked me about it while I was having a coffee at Costa!

“I have to be respectful to the situation that the player is attached to a club.

“It is a player we are very fond of, with his roots (in Kent) as well, but I have said all along, there is loads of work that goes into a transfer of the magnitude of trying to buy somebody but again it is very open ended at the moment, that is about as much as I can say.”

It now appears another club are interested in the forward. Gloucestershire Live reported on Tuesday morning that Gillingham’s offer “in the region of £200,000” has been rejected and League 1 side Bristol Rovers are now in the race for his signature.

The Gills have the funds to attract someone of May’s quality but Cheltenham have a striker who is on contract – for at least another season - and finished the last campaign with 20 goals in League 1.

He would certainly be someone Harris feels could do a job at their level.

Harris said: “Alfie is Cheltenham’s player and involves quite a large transfer fee and although he is a player we are interested in it is a long-shot to get him, we will have to be realistic as well.

“Would Alfie May be a quality addition to any League 2 team? Hell yeah! Without a shadow of a doubt.

“We can only go for the best players we feel we can attract and the best players that we feel can improve us and add to the group that we have already and we will continue to do that.”

Charlton manager Dean Holden wouldn’t comment on their interest in the striker, telling London News Online: “We’re working very diligently and quietly in the background.”

Harris was asked how close the Gills were to making another addition. He’s also looking for a winger and a centre-back, along with someone the manager described as “a project, something slightly different.”

He said: “If I was asked Saturday morning I would say I was very excited, ask me now, not so, that is not just about a single player, that is what happens.

“It has been well publicised that Jonny Williams had a real difficult decision to make from Bradford and that is the position you have with so many players. Those things shouldn’t come out on social media, it is not right for the player or the clubs, but there are ups and down, I understand.

“We have lost players already that we thought we might get and we have gained players we thought we might not get and that will continue over the next eight weeks, it’s just one step at a time.”