By David Pritchard
GILLINGHAM boss Mark Stimson admits he is at a loss to explain why Danny Cullip changed his contract demands at the last minute but believes the squad is strong enough to cope without him.
The 31-year-old left the club this week after failing to agree terms on a new deal, despite negotiating a one-year contract more than two months ago.
When the deal came to be signed earlier this month, the defender asked for another year.
Stimson came back with a contract to keep Cullip at Priestfield until 2010 but it was dependent on him playing a minimum amount of games, which the defender rejected.
Stimson told Kent on Sunday he bore no grudge towards Cullip, who left the club on good terms, but admitted he was surprised by the decision.
He said: “Why he asked for the extra year I don’t know. The club has its reasons why we didn’t want to give him the extra year. You learn from your mistakes and we have still got people here on long contracts from before I arrived.
“On the one hand I can understand what he did but also I can’t because why didn’t he ask for that at the start? I would not go back in and change my terms but everyone is different.”
Cullip joined Gills on a short term deal in February after being released by QPR earlier in the season. He only made 11 appearances for the club but made an instant impact, winning the man of the match award on his debut against Huddersfield.
The former Brighton captain’s arrival saw Stimson switch from his favoured 4-4-2 to a 3-4-1-2 as he sought to get the best out of Cullip.
Despite this, the Gills boss chose to downplay the defender’s influence.
He said: “We didn’t lose many games with Danny in the team but we didn’t win many either. He was very good to have at the time. I don’t know if he was one of my best signings, I would say some have been better and some worse so he’s probably in the middle.
“At the time putting Danny Cullip into the group bonded quite a few of the players. He was the link man between the older players who had been at the club for a while and the new boys because he was so vocal.
“We have got a pre-season to work together where we will find out about each other so that link is not as important as it was.”
Although losing such an experienced campaigner is a blow to Gills’ hopes of bouncing straight back into League One next season, Stimson said he was happy with the squad’s depth.
With Gills reverting to a back four next season, Simon King and Garry Richards are likely to be first choice.
Mark Bentley has shown he can play at the heart of defence and Gills also have Tom Wynter, who will join up with the first team after promotion from the club’s youth side.
As Cullip was leaving Priestfield, Gills were closing in on their first signing of the summer.
Stevenage Borough goalkeeper Alan Julian was at Priestfield for talks this week and could become the fifth player Stimson has signed from his old club.
With Kelvin Jack released and Derek Stillie retiring this month Gills need another goalkeeper.
Ironically Julian turned down a new contract from Stimson when he was still manager at Stevenage, so is now available on a free transfer.
The Gills boss said: “We had a good chat and he loves the surroundings. He’s talking to two other League One clubs but our relationship before may sway him towards us.
He’s definitely someone with potential, for the last three years he’s been the best goalkeeper outside the Football League.”
POSTED: 18/05/2008 11:00:00