Decision time is looming for Gillingham’s second year scholars.

A handful of players have gone out to play non-league football in a bid to toughen them up for a potential crack at the professional game.

Last weekend youth captain Bradley Dack (pictured) and Jack Parter both played for Ramsgate while Jake Hessenthaler and Josh Hare have joined Whitstable Town for work experience.

It’s the time of year which first team manager Andy Hessenthaler admits is not easy. He said: "There will be decisions made in the next few weeks or so and they are a bit nervous.

"It’s a tough one because there are some good players in there. Some will stay and some will go. That’s the nature of the game.

"It is all about decisions and opinions. Whatever happens, it will be the right decisions we believe for the football club.

"It’s a tough time and not an easy job for Darren Hare (youth manager) and myself.

"We see them and watch a lot of youth games, we have to because it showed on Tuesday that we have got the youth players coming through."

The club could opt to hand a third year scholarship to any players they are still not 100% sure on, instead of letting them go.

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