More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Gillingham manager Steve Evans will meet all of his players today - just a day after the season was curtailed.
Evans had known for some time which players he wanted to keep and which players he didn’t and is keen to gets things sorted.
They will have socially distanced face to face meetings throughout today (Wednesday) along with assistant boss Paul Raynor.
Captain Max Ehmer, last year’s player-of-the-season Barry Fuller and promising forward Brandon Hanlan are among the players with contracts which expire this month.
Speaking ahead of those meetings, Evans said: “There will be players on contract for next season and the reality is that they may have a contract that we will honour and respect but we might want to tell them it’s best if they find another club.
“We might be saying to them we are delighted to be working with them and we will see them in a month or two down the road, once we are back in. There will be players who have contracts coming to an end and we have the option to do something with them.
“The chairman will tell me what can and can’t be done and then we will go and implement what we feel is right.”
It’s expected that the club will announce their retained list by the end of the day.
Evans knows the power of social media and sees no reason to sit on it.
“If we don’t put it out, players tend to anyway,” he said.
The Gills boss will also have made a decision on which of the academy players he feels is deserving of a professional contract.
Gillingham have just eight contracted players beyond this summer, with five of last year’s squad now departed having been on loan.
Southampton’s Alfie Jones was among them.
He tweeted: “Gutted we didn’t get to finish the season!! It’s been a pleasure and I wish you all the best for the future.” He added: “A special mention to the fans who have been amazing to me personally and the team!”
Gillingham players who are contracted beyond the summer are Joe Walsh, Jack Bonham, Lee Hodson, Jack Tucker, Connor Ogilvie, Stuart O’Keefe, Matty Willock and John Akinde.
Evans thanked those loan players who helped te Gills to a 10th place finish in the division, saying: “I would like to acknowledge, and thank, all of our loan players throughout the season.
"Alex Jakubiak, Mikael Ndjoli, Olly Lee, Alfie Jones, Tommy O’Connor, Jordan Roberts and Jordan Graham, a huge thank you to each of you!"
