Gillingham are scouring the free-agent market after naming their 48-year-old goalkeeper coach on the bench at Oxford.

Simon Royce, who helped the Gills win promotion a decade ago, last played a league game in February 2011, for Brentford.

The Gills had a race against time to get him registered to play at the weekend following an injury to young back-up stopper Joe Walsh on Friday.

Boss Steve Evans said: “Twenty minutes to 12 and young Joe twisted his ankle a little bit, it’s swollen a bit, then immediately we are thinking we have 18-19 minutes before the 12 o’clock deadline to sign a goalkeeper.

“It is pretty difficult to do that and it has to be a free goalkeeper, it can’t be a goalkeeper coming in on loan.”

The Gills had to get from the training ground to Priestfield to get the papers registered for Royce.

Evans said: “It was operation break the speed record to get to the ground but we were pleased to get it through in time.

“Had it happened on Thursday we would have got a back-up for Jack but we didn’t have time.

“Royce does well in training. If we had to, we would have played him. It wouldn’t have been ideal but he’s fit and keeps himself in perfect shape.”

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Emergency loans are only allowed if the club are without a professional keeper. Bonham is fit and able so the Gills are restricted to non-contracted players if they want to make an addition.

Walsh will now be assessed this week while the Gills decide about whether to bring in a new understudy or rely on Royce, who remains active. He regularly steps in for training matches.

“We will scan what’s about in the market,” Evans said.

“There are some goalkeepers out there but at quarter to 12 on Friday, we only had one option, which was to put Simon in.”

At least the Gills don’t have to worry about Bonham’s form. He was their best player on Saturday in a disappointing defeat to Oxford.

Evans said: “Bonham was outstanding. Three or four of his saves first half and holding on second half, were very good.

“He said in the changing room to the lads, and he is a quiet boy, ‘the difference in front of me first half to second half was black and white’.”

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