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Andy Hessenthaler is ready to welcome Swindon Town's Luke Rooney back to Gillingham this weekend

08:00, 20 April 2012

There will be no hard feelings when Luke Rooney steps foot inside Priestfield again on Saturday, insists Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler.

Luke Rooney
Luke Rooney

The livewire winger (pictured) was sold to Swindon in January after failing to agree a new deal with Gillingham.

It prompted Hessenthaler to drop the player from his team and marked the beginning of the end for Rooney’s Gills career.

He heads back to Gillingham with promotion to League 1 secured and Hessenthaler will be glad to be reacquainted with the 21-year-old.

Hessenthaler said: “It will be nice to see Luke. He made a decision to move on. We did okay out of it and he did okay out of it.

“We offered him a deal but he decided to have a fresh challenge somewhere else and he has gone there and played quite a few games.

“He has been in and out, but he has contributed massively. He is a good player and I have always said that.

“He was great to work with and he was frustrating at times. But he has ability and I am sure he will get a decent reception, although you never know with football.

“We made him an offer that we felt was right for us and he decided to go for a fresh challenge. We are not going to hold that against him; that was his decision.”

What sort of reception should Rooney get at Priestfield? Comment below.

Kent Matchday Live
Kent Matchday Live
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