Gillingham midfielder George Lapslie has described how he’s coped playing at a club that put him on the transfer list in the summer.
The attacking midfielder was one of four players that the club chose to make available in an effort to free up some funds for a summer refresh. Lapslie, and Oli Hawkins, both stayed put as Scott Malone and Ashley Nadesan were moved on.
It could have been messy, but manager Mark Bonner assured Lapslie that he’d be fully involved whatever happened, and the backing of Gillingham’s supporters further emboldened him.
Lapslie kept on training and took his opportunities when they came. He scored the winner at Morecambe and has started Gills’ last three games.
Whatever the future holds, he won’t stop giving his all for the Gills.
“At no point did I put my head down,” he said.
“Nothing really changed, I’ve just been myself around the building, tried to work hard and wait for opportunities. Football is a game of opportunities. If you get your opportunity and take it, then you play again. If you don’t take it, then you get back on the bench or get back out of the squad.
“I know football is quick and I’ve just got to try and stay at the level I’m at and potentially get better at what I’m doing at the minute.
“It’s a massive club and it’s close to home for me, so at no point was I trying to get myself out the door, I’ve been trying to work hard to keep myself in. We’ll just see what the future holds.
“I just feel like every time I play, like I always do, I’ve got to try and show what I can do, prove what I can do. In many aspects, I’ve got nothing to lose.
“In every aspect, physically, mentally, I feel in a good place. I’m just trying to build on that now, add goals to my game, help the team keep winning, keep doing things that I’m being asked to of the manager and the coaching team.”
He spoke to Bonner shortly after the players returned from their summer breaks, having already exchanged phone messages with the newly installed boss. It was a positive exchange.
Lapslie said: “He has been unbelievable with me. He spoke to me about my situation and said ‘if you’re here, you’re going to play’.
“Obviously, in the opening days, you’re feeling each other out and we had a meeting about the way he wants his team to look. I walked out of that meeting thinking, ‘I suit that down to the ground’, so I found it a bit weird that I was maybe going.
“Hopefully I can just try and carry on what I’m doing. I’m sure if I keep doing what I’m doing, then something will happen, either way.”
Lapslie admitted he was close to leaving in the summer, but with a young family, they were at the forefront of any decision.
“I met a few managers,” he said. “Nothing really materialised. Something nearly happened towards the end (of the transfer window) but it just wasn’t right for the family.
“My daughter started school literally two weeks ago, so that was obviously a big factor in everything going on as well, which the club totally understood.
“The process could have been a lot worse than what it has been. The club’s been unbelievable with me.
“I’ve been speaking to (managing director) Joe Comper for maybe two or three months on the situation and I’m grateful for the club handling it the way they have.
“They could have gone the other way with me being put to the side and not involved.
“I’m really grateful that even though they wanted (me to leave), they would have done it in a respectful way and because it hasn’t panned out, it’s probably worked out good for us both that I’m still here. If I’m playing, it’s obviously good for them and if I’m playing, it’s good for me.”
Transfer talk could start up again in January but if Lapslie keeps performing and being involved then things could be different when the window reopens.
He said: “Football’s quick. Change is quick. I’ve just got to try and stay on my toes.
“I’ve never wanted to leave, to be honest.
“I’m just trying my best just to work hard every day and show the manager that I can be useful to him.
“We’ve all handled it the best way we could and we’re just moving forward now.”
Fan support has helped too, with Lapslie talking of his surprise at how they responded.
He said: “I’ve always felt that love but I felt particularly loved, especially on the training day when all the fans came in (during the summer).
“It surprised me how many people were so kind to me and said they didn’t want to see me leave. That was obviously extra motivation for me. I’m very grateful, to be honest.
“It surprised me because I feel like I definitely haven’t hit my potential that I can in the Gillingham shirt.
“It motivated me to stick at it, and just know that I’m a good player, and to just keep doing what I’m doing, because whatever happens, happens.”
Lapslie joined the Gills from Mansfield Town in January 2023, lured by the chance of success. He feels the squad currently assembled has a great chance of achieving that aim.
He said: “We’ve probably still got an extra 10%, 20% we can get to. If we can hit our levels, then we’re going to be a good team at this level, for sure.
“I want to be somewhere where I feel like we’re striving for something to remember at the end of my career.
“I want to get promoted again. I want another promotion on my CV. I’m not going to hide that.
“I wouldn’t have gone to a team that wasn’t chasing promotion, to be honest. I’m desperate for those sort of memories.”
