Gillingham signs new striker on transfer deadline day

KentOnline / KMTV

It comes as Head Coach Stephen Clemence has hinted plenty more moves could be made before the window closes at 11pm. Keep up to date with deals as they happen on KentOnline.

Transcript

00:00 The window closes at 11 tonight, what's the latest on this?

00:03 Yes, Jorge Hotardo is joining Priestfield from Championship side Watford.

00:09 We knew that Gillingham were interested in signing a new striker this window.

00:12 They've already signed one in the form of Josh Walker who scored in his debut last time

00:17 out.

00:18 This signing, a 20 year old, he's already played for his country at international level.

00:21 He was in Colombia's under 20 squad.

00:24 Like I say, we knew Gillingham were interested in signing a striker but he wasn't one of

00:28 the names that were thrown around in any of the rumours this month.

00:31 So hopefully, fans will be hoping that the youngster will be coming along and bringing

00:34 something fresh to the side.

00:36 And that is important as well because today we found out that Gillingham have parted ways

00:40 with two of their strikers.

00:43 One of them being Tom Nicholls who has joined another League Two side of Mansfield Town.

00:47 The other one being Macaulay Bond.

00:48 Now he's joined Cambridge United which is where former Gilles manager Neil Harris is

00:53 currently managing.

00:54 If we go back to about a year ago, Neil Harris was in charge at Priestfield and Macaulay

00:58 Bond joined in the summer window.

01:01 And he was actually, he'd previously worked with Neil Harris before.

01:03 So it makes sense that they're now partnered up again.

01:06 Now when I went to the press conference today, that was the only piece of transfer news we

01:09 knew that Macaulay Bond had left.

01:11 So that was the only thing we could really ask Connor Masterson and Stephen Clements

01:15 about.

01:16 And this is what they had to say.

01:17 He's a great person, yeah.

01:18 I've obviously played with Maca at different clubs as well.

01:21 So I know him inside out and first and foremost I wish him all the best.

01:25 And yeah, he's a great lad.

01:27 We really enjoyed him here.

01:28 But that's football, like I said.

01:30 And we just wish him all the best.

01:33 I wish Macaulay all the best.

01:34 He's been a good professional.

01:37 He hasn't caused me any problems at all around the place.

01:41 He's well respected within the group.

01:43 But somebody in my position, you have to try and freshen things up in that department.

01:51 And this isn't just Macaulay.

01:52 There's lots of people involved in that department.

01:54 We haven't scored enough goals.

01:56 So it's my job to try and improve that.

01:59 And obviously sometimes a player can be at a club and it doesn't actually just work out

02:03 for one reason or another.

02:05 Now as I say, I've got no ill feeling towards Macaulay.

02:07 I've always gotten on well with him.

02:10 And I wish him all the best at his next club.

02:12 Can we expect any more announcements by the end of the day, do you think?

02:14 Well, there's still a few hours left until that deadline closes at 11pm this evening.

02:19 There's still been a few rumours that haven't been addressed yet.

02:22 I mentioned I was at the press conference today.

02:24 Stephen Clements, this entire window, has refused to comment on any moves of other clubs

02:29 at all.

02:30 One of those rumours is Josh Andrews.

02:32 Now he's a Birmingham City player.

02:33 He's actually been on loan with Accrington Stanley for most of this season so far.

02:38 Gillingham have also had some other players that could be potentially leaving.

02:43 I mentioned that Tom Nicholls has now left.

02:46 Another one was George Lapsley.

02:47 I actually saw him at Priestfield today.

02:49 Didn't get a chance to ask him whether or not he'll be hanging around until this weekend.

02:53 But we'll have to wait and see.

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