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Gillingham manager Steve Evans hasn’t given up hope of making new signings.
Wolves winger Jordan Graham was Gillingham’s only addition on transfer deadline day – but that’s not the end of it.
Players who were out of contract before Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline are still free to move and there are plenty of them.
Evans is keen to speak with a couple of targets early this week.
In a twitter message from the club on Saturday – on a free weekend for the Gills – boss Evans was said to be holding talks with two out-of-contract players.
Evans remains keen on adding a versatile defender to his ranks and possibly another midfielder.
He had been hoping to add more before Friday but a deal collapsed late on.
The Gills boss said: “We had agreed, in principle, to sign one other player but his club changed the terms.
“Ideally we would have added one more player to the squad, but it was not to be.
“Our transfer business in this window has been very strategic and focused. I am sure it adds good things to what is already a very talented and hard-working squad.
“We are looking forward to the many challenges over the next few weeks and months. My chairman has been totally supportive in what are challenging times for a number of football clubs.”
Graham’s arrival, on loan for the rest of the season, at least gives the Gills the options out wide that they have been missing since the departure of Mark Marshall, who joined Northampton Town.
Evans was delighted to sign Graham, but even that deal almost fell at the final hurdle.
“A Championship club tried to hijack this signing on (Friday),” he revealed. “But the lad kept to his word and that is a great sign of his character.
“The kid is quick, strong and technically very efficient. I won’t build him up to our supporters; they are good judges so they will inform themselves.”
Gillingham had been linked with several other players, including Peterborough’s Ryhs Bennett. Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony said he was going nowhere after interest from several clubs.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon, meanwhile, confirmed the Gills had made an enquiry for their exciting 16-year-old winger Karamoko Dembele but that approach was quickly dismissed.
While Graham joined the Gills, there were departures.
Watford recalled Gills’ seven-goal leading scorer Alex Jakubiak, and sent him straight back out on loan to St Mirren.
He wasn’t getting enough minutes at the Gills and his departure freed up a loan space to make way for Graham’s arrival. Teams can only name five loanees in a matchday squad and Evans has that many.
Jakubiak joins right-back Lee Hodson at St Mirren. The former Rangers man, who signed a two-year deal with the Gills in the summer, had seen little action and moves north of the border for the rest of the season.
Leaving the Gills permanently, meanwhile, is left-back Bradley Garmston. The former West Brom man played just over 100 games for the Gills but never kicked a ball in the league under Evans. He has moved to Grimsby Town on a deal until the end of the season.
Young forward Roman Campbell has also left, joining non-league Sittingbourne.
Excluding Mark Byrne, who is out injured for the season, and youngster Henry Woods, the Gills have just 19 senior pros on their books.
