Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

'Appropriate' - Gillingham chairman breaks silence on Kyle Dempsey's Bolton Wanderers transfer

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally believes it was 'appropriate' that Kyle Dempsey departed Priestfield for Bolton Wanderers as he wished the club's former skipper well for the future.

Dempsey completed a transfer deadline day move to make his long awaited switch from the Kent club to Wanderers.

He has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Bolton and could make his debut for the club this Saturday on the road against Morecambe.

READ MORE: Nathan Delfouneso's Bolton Wanderers future after Bradford City move and Ronan Darcy loan explained

The transfer came to fruition after the Gills finally resolved their managerial situation on deadline day with Neil Harris being appointed at Priestfield, as well as a replacement in the form of Ben Thompson being signed.

Dempsey departed the relegation-threatened Gills along with former Wanderers Academy product Rhys Bennett and striker John Akinde.

Scally has reflected on the departure of the trio and believes it was 'appropriate' that they left the club as he believes a 'cloud' has gone from the Priestfield club which has been there over the past three months, though he stressed there was no issue with Dempsey, Bennett or Akinde.

Scally said: "We did what deals we could do and had to do. Three players left the club, Kyle Dempsey being the latest one to go to Bolton.

"I can't talk about why they left because those are issues I will address later, but it was appropriate that all three left the club.

"Good servants, I wish them well in the future. They weren't any problem while they were here at the stadium, but I have to say that the last three months there has been a huge cloud over the club and over the dressing room specifically and overall members of staff.

"That cloud has now gone and the positivity here yesterday in the stadium was fantastic, so we need to continue that because there is no future for negativity and you can't win football matches if the crowd are negative.

"What's important for me is that Neil and David will actually start a journey now which will transform the football we play, transform the structure of the team and we're obviously going to try and stay in this division. It's going to be a very difficult ask but we're going to have a go."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.