New Gills signing Jamie O’Hara has been speaking for the first time after signing for Justin Edinburgh’s side.

The 29 year old former Wolves, Blackpool and Fulham midfielder whose career started at Tottenham, has won seven England under 21, and has joined the Gills on a two year deal.

He explained how the move came about. “Coming off the back of a good season last year at Fulham, my contract expired and I started looking at other options.”

“I’d moved back home to Dartford and had been talking to Justin over the summer and it was right for me and my family to come here to a club that I know really well and that all my family support – they’ve got season tickets and a box – it’s a club that are going to be happy with me to “come-back” an enjoy my football, and I think it’s a club that’s going places.”

“After speaking to Justin and the Chairman, I definitely think that it’s a club that is definitely looking to get back into the Championship.”

“I’ve come here because I want to win trophies at the end of the day. I feel like the club with the squad that we’ve got can definitely mount a challenge to win the title this season and that’s something that I definitely want to do.”

“It’s a long season and there’s going to be a lot of hard work but with the players that are coming in and the players who are already here and that they’ve been able to keep hold of, I think that it’s going to be a positive season.”

Jamie then revealed that the Gills boss was one of the pivotal reasons for his arrival at Priestfield.

“Justin was a massive influence on me signing – he’s been a different class!” he conceded.

“He’s been driving me mad actually – it was something that I looked at and when he presented the opportunity to me and talked about the club and what he’s got planned and where he sees us going, I’d had other options in League One to go to, but felt that this was definitely the best place to be.”

Jamie then explained how effectively by signing for the Gills, he’s finally signed for his “local” League club.

“I’m a fully-fledged Kent boy,” he said. “I played for the Dartford district side and Kent at the various age groups.  I’ve just bought a house in the area and it’s nice to be back this way; back to where my family and friends are from, so that I can get my head down, so that I can focus on my football and be happy.

“I’m pretty certain that I’ve played some Dartford district games at Priestfield before – it’s changed a bit – and I’m sure that I’ve scored here but can’t remember when, it was a long time ago!”

“In terms of League games I’m not actually sure that I’ve played here. But I’ve definitely been here watching games with my cousin who’s a mad Gills fan.”

“It’s going to be great to get out there and hit the ground running hopefully straight away. I haven’t actually told the family yet and was hopefully going to try and keep it a secret until Saturday, but I somehow don’t think that that’s going to happen…”

It was later confirmed that O’Hara will wear the number 4 shirt in the Gills squad this season.