In these unprecedented times, no one knows what is happening with football. It’s on an enforced hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there’s no real sign of when this will be lifted. There’ll be a logistical backlog of games to get through. Aside from that, there is also the need to consider player contract situations – the projected end date for the season being past the traditional 30 June cut-off point for contracts.
Gillingham are currently sat in 11th place in League One on 51 points and are eight points adrift of the last of the playoff places currently held by Peterborough. What with the COVID-19 lockdown, football is going through unprecedented times and there is much uncertainty. No one knows what will happen in any respect and the issue with player contracts falls under this heading. Here are five Gillingham players whose contracts run out at the end of June.
Ben Pringle (left midfield): Pringle was signed by Gills boss Steve Evans in early September, Pringle having played under Evans whilst at Rotherham. Pringle brings experience to the Gillingham side with 95 Championship games under his belt. He has featured 10 times (550 minutes) for Gillingham in the league this season and is yet to score.
Barry Fuller (right-back): 35-year-old Ashford-born Fuller initially signed for the Gills from AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer in early July 2018 and signed an extra one-year extension in April last year. Since arriving at the Priestfield Stadium club, fuller has made 226 appearances although these are split over two spells and include an earlier stint (Jan 2008-August 2012) at the club. This season he has featured in 30 of Gillingham’s 35 games and has provided two assists.
Max Ehmer (centre-back): 28-year-old German defender Ehmer came to Gillingham on a free transfer from QPR in the early throes on the summer 2015 transfer window, arriving at the club on July 2. Born in Frankfurt, Ehmer came through the youth system at QPR, although spent most of his time out on loan to other clubs. Since signing with the Gills, Ehmer has made 29 appearances, scoring 14 goals and adding 14 assists. This season he is an ever-present in Steve Evans’ side, starting every game and playing every minute of their League One campaign thus far. He has scored one goal in the 3-1 win against MK Dons and added two assists.
Mark Byrne (central midfield): central midfielder Byrne was Gillingham’s player of the year for the 2017/18 campaign and signed a two-year contract extension on the back of that season. The Dublin-born 31-year-old signed for the Gills from Newport County and has made 157 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals and adding 12 assists. This season has seen the former Barnet and Newport County man feature 18 times in League One for Steve Evans’ outfit providing one assist in the 5-0, early-season demolition of Bolton Wanderers.
Regan Charles-Cook (right midfield): 23-year-old Cook started out his football education at Arsenal, moving from their youth side to Charlton’s Under-18s in July 2013. He signed for Gillingham from Charlton’s Under-23s at the opening of the 2018 summer transfer window, the Gills snapping him up on a two-year deal. He’s featured in 56 games since arriving at the club, scoring six goals and providing two assists. This season has seen him featured in 15 of Gillingham’s League One games, the young midfielder scoring three goals.
