Mark Bonner has hinted at where he would like to strengthen his Gillingham side as the summer transfer window edges closer.
The new Gills boss has already added two names to his side in Crewe Alexandra forward Eliott Nevitt and AFC Wimbledon‘s Armani Little who have both arrived on free transfers.
Bonner arrived at Priestfield this summer after the club relieved Stephen Clemence of his duties after falling short of the League Two play-offs with a 12th-placed finish. The former Birmingham City midfielder has now since taken over at Barrow.
The former Cambridge United manager spoke of where he wants to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season. He said (Quotes via KentOnline): “We want to change the dynamic of the team a little. We want to change the make-up of the team and the balance of the squad a little so it gives us an opportunity to play different ways
“We want wingers in the squad and at the moment it is a squad that hasn’t really got any, so that is something we are really looking to do.
“We are looking at attacking players, we need to improve our creativity and numbers and we certainly want to add in those positions. There are a lot of players across the leagues that fit those boxes.”
One of the names floated around joining Gillingham this summer is Accrington Stanley ace Jack Nolan, with Pete O’Rourke reporting that the Kent club had agreed a fee for the 23-year-old.
Nolan was the Lancashire club’s top scorer last season with 17 goals in 53 appearances as they faltered to a 17th-placed finish in the fourth division.
The left-footed winger is currently out of contract, with John Doolan having offered him a new deal to remain at the Wham Stadium for next season. Should Gills pursue a deal for the former Walsall player, they would be required to pay a compensation fee.
Commenting on the rumours, Bonner replied: “I don’t live on Twitter and I certainly don’t do business on Twitter either, it is not for me to talk about any individual player until they are our players.
“We are working really hard currently, speaking to a number of players that are of interest to us in attacking areas of the pitch but at the moment we have got no news to add, whether that adds fuel to the fire or not, I don’t know.
“I don’t want to dismiss or almost confirm anything. I actually just love this time of year, watching the media circus that goes on now and the amount of names that get thrown about, the majority of which are absolute nonsense but it is good fun playing the game and working out who may end up where.”
Writer’s View
Giving your side as much versatility as possible is in most manager’s interest so it should be no surprise that Mark Bonner is looking to add more to his wide areas. Gillingham were League Two’s second-lowest scorers last season, only behind relegated Forest Green Rovers. Pursuing a winger that has a strong scoring record in Jack Nolan should solve both of these issues.
Bonner will be targeting what Stephen Clemence failed to do last season and break Gills into a promotion battle. League Two is not as strong as it was last season following the promotions of Stockport County, Wrexham and Mansfield Town, it should be easier to claim an automatic place. With his past record of promotion from the fourth tier with Cambridge and the backing of Gillingham’s owners, the expectations going into next season should be high.
1st Class Honours in Multimedia Journalism at Salford University. Writing mainly about League Two.