TALKS to pay up Gillingham defender Efe Sodje’s contract are continuing, but manager Mark Stimson expects negotiations to go on for some time.
The 35-year-old not in Stimson’s plans for next season and is reportedly keen on making a permanent move to League Two side Bury, where he finished last season on loan.
But Stimson told Kentnews that Gills chairman Paul Scally offered the former Nigerian international a deal to pay up the final year of his contract a week ago.
He said: “In these situations the player always wants more than we offer so I don’t know how long it’s going to take – it could take a week, it could be a month.”
Sodje joined Gills on a free transfer last summer. He was initially first choice at the heart of defence with Ian Cox, but fractured an eye socket in a challenge at Yeovil last November.
After nearly three months on the sidelines he returned to fitness but was unable to force his way back into the first team, prompting the move to Bury.
POSTED: 23/05/2008 09:23:43