ANDREW Crofts has been put on the transfer list at Gillingham after appearing to fall out of favour with manager Mark Stimson.
The midfielder, who was stripped of the Gills’ captaincy in the last few weeks, will have his name circulated to Championship and League One teams with a view to arranging a loan move or permanent transfer.
Kent News exclusively revealed two weeks ago that Stimson expected Crofts to leave the club at the end of the season on a Bosman deal, and it appears the Gills are looking to cash in when the January transfer window opens.
The Chatham-born Wales international is a graduate of the Gills youth system and holds the club record for most international caps by a Gillingham player.
Crofts was named Player of the Year in 2006/2007 and was awarded the captain's armband in 2007/08 but has recently been kept out of the starting line-up by the impressive form of Mark Bentley and Curtis Weston.
Stimson said: "Andrew needs to and wants to play football, we understand that. At the moment he’s not going to get that opportunity here this weekend so the next best thing is to open it up and see if anybody else is interested in taking him and give him some games.
"I just see other players who are probably performing better. We have to be judged on now, not three months ago, six months ago.
"As a football player you are judged every game, your last game has to be your best game otherwise you give people an opportunity to step in and take your shirt.
"Mark Bentley has done brilliantly in the centre of the pitch with Curtis Weston and Adam Miller played his first 90 for a while on Tuesday and I was pleased with him. That leaves Crofts out of it, he leaves at the end of the season on a Bosman so if he’s not playing here and he goes out on loan his money will be worth looking at and using in other positions."
To watch the video interview with Mark Stimson, click here.
POSTED: 23/10/2008 11:21:13
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