Departing defender Jack Tucker reckons the club is well placed to bounce back from last season’s relegation.

Tucker has ended 15 years at the club after signing for MK Dons and the 22-year-old has expressed his thanks to the club’s fans who have backed him since he first broke into the senior team in 2017.

His last game in April was a 2-0 defeat to Rotherham, a result that led to Gillingham being relegated to League 2.

He wrote: “I’ve loved every minute of my time at the club and am incredibly proud to have played 137 times for the club I’ve grown up at.

“It hurts me the way things finished last season, being unable to stay in League 1, but I fully believe with the staff and players still there that they can bounce back.

“Thank you to all the staff I’ve worked with over the years, and to all the players who have helped me massively over the last couple of seasons. I have for sure made some friends for life.

“Lastly thank you to the fans who have always show me great support ever since I stepped foot on the pitch infront of you, it really is greatly appreciated.”

Tucker couldn’t pass up the opportunity of moving on this summer, having come to the end of his current contract. He’s had numerous clubs interested in the last few years, ever since becoming a regular in the Gills side.

MK Dons narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship last season and Tucker said: “I am hoping I can be that extra piece of the jigsaw that helps us get up this year.

"Having played against a few MK Dons teams in the last few years I know how tough they can make it for other teams so hopefully I will be on the right end of those ones in the next coming years.

“The gaffer said the only place they want to go is up. I am an ambitious person myself and so the club matches my ambitions and more to get up the leagues and hopefully quickly, I hope to be a factor in that. This is a good place to improve and learn and that fitted me perfectly. I am excited to see what the future holds.”