Wanderers have added another striking option to their B team ranks with the capture of highly-thought of former Gillingham youngster Gez Sithole.
Sithole will start his Whites’ stay in the B squad but at the age of 19 brings a CV showing 21 first-team appearances for the Gills.
Most of those have come via the bench – including a substitute’s appearance against Wanderers in a 2-2 draw at the University of Bolton Stadium last October.
But having featured 20 times at first-team level for the Gills last season in his first year as a professional, Sithole arrives with plenty of potential to kick on and forge a senior career with the Whites.
The Kent-born striker scored his first senior goal in an EFL Trophy tie against Crawley Town last season and then netted the Gills’ equaliser in an FA Cup draw with Cheltenham Town in November.
The Whites’ new B-team project will now give Sithole (pronounced S-itt-ullay) the platform to develop further as he becomes the sixth external recruit to Matt Craddock’s squad ahead of the new campaign.
Sithole joins fellow frontmen Conor Carty and Matty Grivosti, attacking midfielder Connor Stanley, midfielder Nelson Khumbeni and defender Lynford Sackey.
And after meeting his new team-mates and starting pre-season training with Wanderers this week, Sithole is looking to thrive in a different style of football after the Whites successfully managed to secure his services following his departure from the Priestfield Stadium.
“I thought it would be a new challenge for me to come up north and test myself and keep learning and getting better,” he said.
“You want to experience something new in your career so hopefully I’m able to do that here.
“It’s a fantastic stadium to play in. I remember the atmosphere from playing here last season so hopefully I can transition from the B team to the first team as quickly as possible.
“Everyone wants to do their best and everyone wants to play first-team football. I’ve had a taste of it, so I’m eager to get back into that.
“It made a little easier for me as well, staying in League One.
“I know what it’s about, so hopefully if I get that chance I’m more aware and can improve even quicker.”