With Gillingham’s competitive season beginning on Saturday, striker Brandon Hanlan still has to commit himself to Steve Evans’ squad for the new season.

Last weekend, news broke that Portsmouth had “expressed” an interest in the striker but so far nothing has happened in regards to securing Hanlan’s signature. Despite all the speculation, the striker has been training with the squad and playing in the Gills pre-season games.

When we spoke to the Gills boss ahead of the Carabao Cup game at the weekend, we asked for and update on the position. Evans explained, “I’ve had one phone call from Kenny Jackett weeks ago expressing an interest – they said that they’d follow it up!”

He went on, “there’s been no follow up whatsoever – I don’t know what games are being played; I don’t know what advice Brandon’s been given by agents – it’s really terrible advice to a young man at this stage of his career!”

“Unfortunately, there are clubs and agents in football that always send signals to a lot of people and sign very few of them. We don’t play that game – I certainly don’t!”

“If I’d phoned another manager and expressed an interest and were going to do something, then that would have been with the full autonomy of my Chairman and our Chairman would have been making calls that day or the next day.”

“I’m disappointed how that’s fallen out but Brandon has had an opportunity any day to come in and sign the contract that’s on offer and get back to doing what a young man should be doing and concentrate on football and not what might’s or might not be’s.”

With the Southend Carabao Cup tie just a couple of days, the Gills boss confirmed, “My understanding is that he’s not “allowed” to be involved on Saturday,” he said before adding, “Plus as a manager if he doesn’t want to be with us, then do I want him in the battle – the clear answer to that would be no! I had a further chat with Brandon on Tuesday.”

“Brandon’s gone away to think things through – Brandon has a decision to make; he has to play football. Footballers are footballers and that’s what they do for a living; drivers drive, taxi drivers drive cars to pick passengers up, train drivers do the same, you have to go to work for a living.”

“Brandon’s a footballer and for me, that should not be forgotten in all of this; he wants to perhaps, for me, just concentrate on his football, ignore some of the worse advice and get back to playing football!”