Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh has played down suggestions Jack Payne could be returning to the club.

The 23-year-old midfielder is one of several to have been transfer-listed by League 1 rivals Peterborough United.

He captained Posh last season but has been told he is free to move on. Several clubs are understood to have shown interest but it seems unlikely the Gills will be bringing him back to Kent.

Edinburgh said: “There was a conversation before the end of the season but it wasn’t as simple as Jack is coming back to play for us.

“It was mentioned, there was a conversation, but it hasn’t gone any further. At the moment there is no movement on that.”

Posh director of football Barry Fry earlier revealed the communication between the two clubs over Payne, who left Priestfield for London Road in 2013.

"Gillingham have been in touch," Fry told the Peterborough Telegraph last week.

"We arranged to meet at the Football League conference in Portugal last week to talk more but they didn’t come over in the end.

"We want money for Jack which might be a stumbling block."

Payne made 113 appearances for Gills after making his debut in 2008.