Gillingham have completed the free transfer signing of former Crystal Palace defender Matt Lawrence on a one-year deal.
The 36 year-old brings a wealth of experience to the Gills back four and can operate at right-back or centre-half.
Confirming the signing this morning, Gills Gaffer Andy Hessenthaler said, "Tuesday night's performance confirmed that, given our current injury problems, we need to bring someone in who can organise the defence.
"Matt can do that for us, he played 20 games in the Championship last season and he will be a great asset at this level. He can play at right-back or centre-half and every time I played against he was man-of-the-match."
Born in Northampton, Lawrence began his career with non-league Grays Athletic, coming into the game late after completing a degree in American Literature.
He moved into the League with Wycombe Wanderers five months later and enjoyed two spells at Adams Park, either side of a season long stay with Fulham.
Matt moved to Millwall in 2000, where he clocked up well over 200 league starts in six seasons at the New Den. Lawrence also collected an FA Cup runners-up medal in 2004 and was involved in the Lions subsequent Uefa Cup campaign.
In 2006, he made the short trip across South London to Selhurst Park, making a further 121 league appearances for Crystal Palace, before his release this summer.
Matt goes straight into Hessy's team plans for this weekend's trip to Hereford and has been given the squad number 15
