Tom Nichols is the second Gillingham striker to depart on transfer deadline day.
Nichols – who joined the Gills a year ago from Crawley Town – has now signed for Gills’ League 2 rivals Mansfield Town.
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It’s been one out, one in since the January transfer window opened and head coach Stephen Clemence will no doubt be hoping he can complete another addition to replace Nichols before the window closes.
Clemence has managed to bring in forwards Josh Walker and Jorge Cabezas Hurtado on loan during the January transfer window with strikers Lewis Walker, Macauley Bonne and now Nichols all leaving. Gillingham are the lowest scorers in League 2 and their head coach hopes a reshuffle will change their fortunes.
In addition, the Gills have brought in crossing specialist Remeao Hutton as right-back Cheye Alexander agreed to terminate his contract.
The Gills have been linked with a move for Birmingham City striker Josh Andrews, who spent the first half of this season on loan at fellow League 2 side Accrington Stanley.
Mansfield have been keen on Nichols for some time, making a bid for the striker in the summer of 2022 while he was at Crawley and now they have their man.
The 30-year-old has spent the last year with the Gills but goals have been in short supply since his move for an undisclosed fee from Crawley Town. His move at the end of December 2022 was the first deal completed under new owner Brad Galinson.
Nichols’ performances during the second half of the 2022/23 season helped transform the club’s fortunes, as they quickly rose from the foot of League 2 and towards safety, and he had now problem finding the net in his first few games.
The striker scored in each of his first three appearances for Gillingham and added another three before the season was finished. Goals have been harder to come by this term, however, with just one to his name in the league.
He netted in the 3-1 win over Salford having also scored against Hereford in the FA Cup and Luton Town in the League Cup.
Nichols leaves Gillingham with a record of nine goals in 55 appearances.
He joins a Mansfield team who sit third in the League 2 table. Gillingham face The Stags in their penultimate league game, on April 20.
