November 7, 2024

Gillingham keen to sign loan players permanently: QPR defender Conor  Masterson and Shrewsbury's Aiden O'Brien have impressed

Doncaster Rovers man in good spirits after bringing up landmark appearance

Joseph Olowu says he is looking forward to more adventures with Doncaster Rovers after ticking off a major milestone.

The former Arsenal man recently racked up his 100th outing for Grant McCann’s side. After arriving in September 2021, the centre-half has enjoyed plenty of ups and downs in that time. It has included the lows of relegation and the highs of playing in a team that is in the form of its life right now. McCann’s men have won eight league games on the bounce and are hunting down a play-off spot.

“I’m truly grateful from the bottom of my heart,” said Olowu, who is under contract until the summer of 2025, when asked to reflect on his time at the club.

READ MORE:

Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence on facing his former striker Tom Nichols this weekend against Mansfield Town

Tom Nichols was one of the players Gillingham agreed to let go when the club looked to reshape their strike force in January.

Nichols looks set to face his former team this weekend as a promotion-winner for weekend hosts Mansfield Town. The Stags clinched a top-three spot with a midweek win over Accrington.

Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence comes up against former striker Tom Nichols this Saturday at Mansfield Picture: @Julian_KPI
Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence comes up against former striker Tom Nichols this Saturday at Mansfield Picture: @Julian_KPI

More: Clemence with injury doubts ahead of Mansfield trip

Looking ahead to Saturday’s match at Mansfield, Gills boss Stephen Clemence admits it was a tough call to let Nichols leave but there was more than one reason for his departure – aside from a lack of goals.

Nichols, 30, scored three times in 32 appearances for the under-performing Gills and along with Macauley Bonne were deemed disposable as the club looked to freshen things up.

Bonne went to Cambridge with former boss Neil Harris while Nichols signed an 18-month contract at Mansfield and is now a promotion-winner, scoring three goals for the Stags since his move including a recent winner against Forest Green Rovers.

Clemence said: “The goals per game ratio has been pretty poor all season and I told Tom and Macca I felt I had to freshen things up.

Gillingham keen to sign loan players permanently: QPR defender Conor  Masterson and Shrewsbury's Aiden O'Brien have impressed

“We haven’t improved on that as much as we would have liked since they left but it was a tough call.

“Tom also has a girlfriend in the north and wanted to be closer to her as well. There are personal reasons behind what players want to do.

“I also think if you are wanted by a team who were first or second in the league at the time, then that is going to turn his head, so off he went.

“He went with my good wishes and I am pleased he has been successful.

“We have to make sure if it can’t be us this year being successful and sneaking in there, then we have to be there next year and enjoy what he is enjoying now.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *