News on a number of former players...
Both Garry Richards and Danny Spiller could be departing Luton Town in the near future, without either having kicked a ball for the club. The pair moved to Kenilworth Road last summer under Paul Buckle but sustained long-term injuries prior to the 2012-13 campaign.Richards had ankle surgery and Spiller’s persistent Achilles problem kept them sidelined and their Hatters future has been brought into question by manager John Still, even though the pair still have a year remaining on their current deals.
Speaking to local press Still said "Yes, I think we just need to update ourselves on the medical reports, which we are waiting on. Once we get them, we can see where both players are for next season and we can make a decision."
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It has been reported this week that Luke Rooney is in talks over a move to League One Crawley Town although Cheltenham Town, Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle are all said to be keen. The 22-year-old has failed to make any real impact at Swindon since arriving in January 2012 and has been loaned out to both Burton Albion and Rotherham United.
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The experienced midfielder Mark Bentley, a versatile performer who spent five seasons at Priestfield before departing in the summer of 2011, has switched Conference South clubs after joining Boreham Wood. Last season he made 53 appearances while club captain at Hayes & Yeading.
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Dean Rance is one of a number of players to have followed former Dover Athletic coach Steve Brown after he was named the new Ebbsfleet United manager. The highly-rated tenacious 22-year-old made one senior appearance for the Gills and is joined at Stonebridge Road by former trialist Ben May who has also switched from the Crabble.
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Former Northern Ireland, Manchester City and West Ham midfielder Steve Lomas has left Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone after two seasons and has been named as the new manager at Millwall. At the New Den he will replace Kenny Jackett who resigned at the end of last season.
Steve, signed by Ronnie Jepson, made just nine appearances for Gillingham after joining in July 2007 which included a red card on his debut at Cheltenham Town but was released from his contract by Mark Stimson the following January.
Newspaper reports have linked Lomas with bringing Lions legend Neil Harris back to the club as his assistant and also a move to sign Simeon Jackson following his release by Norwich City
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Conference South new boys Whitehawk have signed defender Richard Rose, the now 30-year-old was at Dartford last season but turned down the offer of a new deal at Princes Park.
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Frenchman Romain Vincelot (above) has signed a new three-year deal with Leyton Orient having joined the O’s back in February following his release from Brighton & HA. He had of course previously scored one goal, on his debut at AFC Wimbledon, in 11 games while on loan with Martin Allen’s Gillingham from October 2012.
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Febian Brandy, who scored two goals in nine games for the Gills while on loan from Manchester United in 2009, is said to be in talks with Sheffield United despite being wanted at current club Walsall.
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Left-sided defender Matt Fry has joined Conference Premier Dartford ahead of the new season having helped Concord Rangers to promotion last season. Fry played 13 times on loan with the Gills back in 2009 after joining on loan from West Ham United.
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One time Gills loanee Leigh Mills has returned to home-town club Winchester City from Wessex League Premier Division outfit Blackfield & Langley having left the Citizens for Richard Hill’s Eastleigh in September 2012.
Leigh forged an impressive partnership with a certain Charlie Lee during his time in the youth team at Tottenham Hotspur.
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Moses Ashikodi, who has spent the last three or so years plying his trade at Kettering Town, York City and Ebbsfleet Utd where he played 23 games for last season, could be returning to the Football League. It was reported in the Non-League Paper that the Antigua & Barbudan has been offered the chance to spend pre-season with Dagenham & Redbridge.
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Adam Burchell, a community coach here at Priestfield, has left newly promoted Erith & Belvedere for Ryman League Division One South club Leatherhead. The former Gills youth team striker, who was released in the summer of 2009, has since played for Dartford, Tonbridge Angels, Maidstone United, Margate and Metropolitan Police.