Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler has voiced his disappointment at Swindon Town making public their bid for midfielder Luke Rooney.

The twenty one year old rejected a new offer to stay at The Gills towards the end of last year and as a result was dropped from the squad.

However, he has been back in Hessenthaler’s plans in recent weeks and came off the bench for Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Stoke City in the FA Cup.

On Friday, Swindon Chairman Jeremy Wray had this to say to BBC Radio Wiltshire: “He’s stuck out for Gillingham this season and he’s somebody we are pursuing,”   “For whatever reason he’s decided he’s come to the end of his time at Gillingham and obviously they’ve got to do best by them to make sure they get the best price,” added Wray.

Despite having played at the weekend, it remains uncertain as to whether Rooney will remain as a Gillingham player come the closing of the January transfer window.

One thing that is certain is that Hessenthaler was clearly less than impressed with Swindon’s conduct, telling Sky Sports:

“To go on the radio and say they have made a six-figure bid is not good conduct. Rooney is a good player. We want him to stay at the football club,” Hessenthaler said.   “We have offered him a deal but we haven’t reached an agreement.”

“I am not going to get into a war with Swindon but to put that into the press a day before a big FA Cup tie, I am disappointed in their chairman and I know my chairman is livid as well,” Hessenthaler added.

“They had a private conversation and to go out on Radio Wiltshire and say they have made a six-figure bid, it is not good conduct. That is how we feel.”

Meanwhile, Hessenthaler’s desire to make Jo Kuffour’s loan move from Bristol Rovers a permanent one increased after Danny Kedwell went off injured with a suspected cracked rib on Saturday.

“It is going to be a concern to us and something we need to deal with over the next couple of days,” Hessenthaler said.

“Now that Kedwell is probably missing, the chairman and I have a bit of work to do over the next couple of days to maybe bring in some new faces.   “We want Jo to come and if we can bring another body in that would be nice.”

Hessenthaler has got a week in which to find some striking option before the visit to Shrewsbury with Dagenham & Redbridge striker Gavin Tomlin one of those tipped to make a move to Priestfield.

Pictures supplied by Jack Gracie