Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler expressed his disappointment at comments suggesting Josh Gowling would be leaving Priestfield in the summer.

One of Gowling’s advisers, Gerald Harrington, announced on Friday that the defender (pictured in ation on Saturday) would not be with the Gills next season and that prompted the player’s other adviser to ring Hessenthaler to apologise.

Mr Harrington was quoted on skysports.com, saying: "Josh is available on a free transfer at the end of this season and it looks like he will be moving on.

"Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler promised Josh that he would be getting a new deal, but the offer never arrived and they have left it too late now.

"I am talking to interested clubs in Josh with clubs higher up the league keen on signing him."

Gowling, like a number of Gillingham players, is out of contract in the summer and is free to enter into negotiations with other clubs.

But while the Gills fight for promotion, manager Hessenthaler has put contract talks on hold.

Hessenthaler said: "I am disappointed in Josh’s adviser. His other adviser phoned me up and apologised for the other guy, because he shouldn’t have been doing what he’s doing.

"We have not spoken to any players yet about their futures for next season because we don’t know what the budget is going to be and we don’t know where we are going to be.

"I have had a few agents phone me up about the players we have got here. As for Josh leaving that’s not the case. I haven’t spoken to Josh and I don’t think he needs to talk to me about it.

"He has just got to concentrate on playing and he did that well again (on Saturday). As for his adviser, I think he shouldn’t be saying what he is saying, and there is no truth in it."

Picture: Barry Goodwin

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