Gills Ex-Shrimpers: one buzzing off to Brentford, two look like staying

38-year old Simon Royce is one of the best shot stoppers in the lower leagues, and played over 150 games as a Shrimper, has been signed by Brentford as cover for new keeper Richard Lee, who joined from Watford, as well as their goalkeeping coach.

He may find himself on the recieving end of some abuse from the Griffin Park faithful as he has previously played for west London rivals QPR, as well as the Gills.

S24's Gillingham-based contact tells us that the money offered Roycey to stay at the Priestfield was pretty poor.

On arriving at Brentford, he told the club's web-site: "It's a great opportunity for me as I start to wind down my playing career and start a new chapter in my life. Particularly so at a club who obviously share my ambition for success."

The Bees look like they have some dosh to spend and are gearing up for a real promotion push, maybe not such a 'sideways' move for Simon Francis after all!



Mark Bentley: 'A big determination to help get the Gills back into League One'

Meanwhile, midfielder, and part time centre back, Mark Bentley, member of our League One squad that were crowned Champions at the end of the 2005/06 season, looks like he'll be staying with the Kent based club.

Bentley, now 32, was offered fresh terms on Tuesday, and will be speaking with chairman Paul Scally which should end with him placing pen to paper for the club he's played for now over the last four seasons.

Bentley told www.kentonline.co.uk: "I want to stay at the club and there are just a few tweaks that need doing before I agree a deal. I've played 170 games for the club and I feel like I've been a good servant down the years. I've got a big determination to help get the club back into League One. We're not far apart (on a deal) and hopefully we can come to an agreement."



Garry Richards:

As for centre half Garry Richards, whose style of football should certainly be at home in League Two, he only played ten league games for us, including a red card wrongly given him at Oldham by Trevor Kettle, and is also in the verge of accepting a new contract with Gillingham.

Richards, still only 23, joined the Gills from the Shrimpers during the January 2008 transfer window, and has made 77 appearances for the team, including playing an important part in the side that gained promotion from League Two last May through the play-offs.

Also speaking to www.kentonline.co.uk Garry said: "Hopefully something can be agreed by the end of the week. I've already made my position clear to the manager that I want to stay and sort something out. It's down to my agent now to sort out the formalities and hopefully I'll know what's happening by the latest Monday or Tuesday."

Following an ankle injury which kept him out of the side towards the end of last season's struggle against relegation that was eventually lost, Garry hopes he'll be able to start running in the next few weeks.

He continued: "Hopefully next season I can try and stake my place in the starting 11 and be a consistent figure of a successful team."

Not that successful we hope Gary