Five Gillingham scholars have been offered professional deals.

They are striker Noel Mbo, midfield paid Bradley Stevenson and Ben Chapman and defenders Finn O’Mara and Aaron Simpson.

Boss Ady Pennock said: “They’re all eager to learn and I believe they are all capable of going on to claim a place in our starting XI before too long.

“I wish them every success.”

Goalkeeper Will Sykes and midfielder Sam Lawford will be released at the end of the season.

All five of those offered deals have been involved for the first team this season, though 18-year-old attacking midfielder Stevenson is the only one to have made an appearance.

Stevenson came off the bench in this season’s Checkatrade Trophy against Luton Town.

Simpson, 17, captained the youth team and was in the matchday squad for the game at Swindon last month.

Mbo, 18, has been an unused substitute twice this season, having first been named in the first team back in October 2015 by former boss Justin Edinburgh.

O’Mara,18, was an unused substitute against Millwall in the Checkatrade Trophy along with Chapman, who also made the squad for the trip to Chesterfield back in September.