Simon Royce set for Gillingham goalkeeping coach role

Royce will be 39 in September this year

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler is considering offering Simon Royce a role as player-goalkeeping coach.

Royce, 38, is out of contract after three years at Priestfield and has not played a first-team game since a car accident in December.

But Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent that Royce can fulfil two roles and will talk to him this week.

"We have a ready-made one (coach) in Simon and he can still stand in for Alan Julian if there was a problem."

Royce first joined the Gills on loan at the end of the 2006/7 season and was a regular in the side that won promotion to League One in 2008/9.

But Julian came in for Royce after his accident and since returning to fitness Royce has had to settle for a place on the bench.

Hessenthaler added: "I would like to have a goalkeeping coach but the finances dictate, but Simon has got a lot of experience, so that would be something that would interest me."

If Royce does become player-goalkeeping coach, that would leave utility player Mark Bentley as the one player whose future at the club has still to be made public by Hessenthaler.

But the manager has hinted that Bentley's future does remain at Gillingham.

"Mark was in and out of the side last year but in the latter part he came in and did really well and is the type of player the football club needs," added Hessenthaler.

"He's wholehearted and a passionate lad so we will sit down, but it's down to finances really."

Three players - defenders Barry Fuller and Gary Richards, and winger Dennis Oli - are considering offers of new contracts and John Nutter played sufficient games last season to trigger a new deal.

Eight players have been released and Hessenthaler has revealed he is still some way from his first new signing.

Meanwhile, Darren Hare has returned to Priestfield as youth team manager. Hare was Hessenthaler's assistant manager in his three years in charge of Dover Athletic.