Jake Hessenthaler gets new contract
Gills Assistant Manager John Schofield has revealed the club have offered Jake Hessenthaler a one-year professional contract.
In his pre-match press conference John said: “Jake is technically very good, a good ball player and it’s his first step towards moving up the ladder. He will continue to work hard and he deserves it because he has worked hard at his game.
“He’s out on loan at Tamworth at the minute gaining valuable experience and when he gets back we will be reaping the benefits of that.”
The futures regarding a number of other development squad players have also been decided.
John added: “There are three or four changes that have happened over the last 24 hours. The Manager and the senior staff have been in meetings regarding the future of one or two of the younger lads.
“Daren Hawkes, Nathan Nyafli and Jack Parter have left the football club. Ashley Miller has been given a free transfer and Alfie Coates hasn’t been offered a third year scholarship.
“We have no decision regarding Joe Carter because he is coming back from injury.
“It’s always disappointing but what you do is be honest and give them honest feedback and information. Hopefully they can take that and progress their career by using the words we have given to them.
“We will also help them training wise.
“That’s what’s happened – it's part of football, all you can do is be honest. There has been a lot of input from the guys that have worked with them – it’s not an instant reaction.
“For all of the other younger lads the process is well underway now for the beginning of July which is when we start again.”
John was asked if the process starts now regarding recruiting further youngsters or progressing more through the academy.
He replied: “That’s on-going anyway. It would be wrong to say that we start looking now; if we were to start looking now then the state of the very good youth system that we’ve got would not be a very good youth system.
“It would be a system which is reactive rather than proactive.”