Gillingham Football Club have confirmed the departure of midfielder Josh Wright.

Much speculation about Wright’s future at Priestfield surfaced in the past few days with the midfielder missing from the matchday squad for the past two games against Southend United.

The former captain and Player of the Year was said to have been unhappy at certain aspects of his recent time with The Gills, with the club issuing a statement confirming he is now a free agent:

“The club can now confirm that Josh Wright has mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect.”

“The midfielder signed the relevant forms on Wednesday and is now a free agent.”

“Everyone at the club would like to thank Josh for his services and we wish him well for the future.”

Meanwhile, Wright issued his own statement via Twitter on Wednesday, expressing his wish to return to the club at some point in the future:

“I dreaded this day and never wanted it to happen but I suppose it has to happen one day in football.”

“I would prefer to focus on the highs and great memories rather than dwell on how it finished.

“From 2009 with the promotion to the hat-trick of penalties at the Rainham End, being named captain for a club so close to my heart, to (winning) player of the year, the cup run last season, to hearing my name sung by you great fans.

“I could go on and on but one thing for sure is you the fans, the heart of the club, will be my friends for life.

“I would happily have spent the rest of my career at a place I call home but it wasn’t to be in the end.

“I can’t thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart and I hope you appreciated I gave 110% every time I stepped on that pitch for the club.

“I will miss so much about the place and want to thank everyone from the chairman, staff from top to bottom, the players and most importantly the greatest fans around.

“Lastly I would like to remember the 14 goals last season and for me that’s where I finished.

“Keep supporting this great club which I know you will and I would love to see great times ahead.

“I’ll leave you with this… I promise you I will be back in some capacity one day if welcomed and will remain a fan for life.”