Manager Steve Evans has turned to a familiar face as part of his summer recruitment drive at League 1 Rotherham United.
Former Gills boss Evans returned to his old club Rotherham at the back end of last season, with relegation from the Championship already assured. He’s now putting together a team to get out of League 1 at the first attempt.
Part of his playing team will be Alex MacDonald, linking up with Evans for a fourth time.
Experienced midfielder MacDonald was Evans’ ninth signing of the summer at Rotherham but he added a 10th later the same day.
Evans has still got a few more signings to make if he wants to beat the total of 15 he made during the summer transfer window at Gillingham ahead of the 2020/21 season.
MacDonald was one of those arrivals at ME7 in the summer of 2020, joining the Gills from Mansfield Town, where he’d previously played under Evans.
The 34-year-old midfielder, speaking of his latest move, said: “Despite interest and offers elsewhere as soon as I spoke to Steve he didn’t need to convince me too much.
“Over the last couple of years in my career, I have been starved of success and I am hungry for it. I am desperate to be part of something successful.
“We have a great working relationship, not just him, Rayns (assistant Paul Raynor) as well. They know what they will get from me, I know what I am going to get from them and the style of play and how to play in a Steve Evans side.
“Hopefully we can have some success. I feel I still have a lot to give. It’s a fourth time signing for him, I am as delighted as the first time.”
Over three seasons at Gillingham, MacDonald made 87 league appearances but missed most of the 2021/22 campaign with a serious knee injury.
There were fears that his career could be in jeopardy after nine months out but he went onto make 55 appearances the following season in League 2 under Neil Harris, who wanted him to sign a new deal.
MacDonald opted for a move to Stevenage in League 1, to be reunited with Evans again and he clocked up another 34 games as the team enjoyed a relatively successful campaign at the higher level following promotion.
Evans’ Stevenage side last season included other players he’d worked with before at Gillingham, such as popular striker Vadaine Oliver and fellow forward Jordan Roberts, a player he had on loan at the Gills.
