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Onuora heads for the exit

IFFY Onuora is resigned to leaving Gillingham when his contract expires next month. The popular striker had talks on Thursday night with Division 3 Bristol Rovers, who are one of a number of clubs interested in signing him, though he wants to continue playing at the highest level.

"I really don't know where I will be playing next season but I'm not ruling out anything at this stage," said Onuora. I'll take the next couple of weeks to make a decision. I will be speaking to all the clubs who have called me but if I received an offer from a club in one of the higher divisions I would be daft not to accept it.

"Though I live in Bristol, playing for a club close to home is not an overriding factor. It could be seen as taking the easy option and I've never done that. I want to keep pushing myself and the single biggest factor for me is to play at the highest level possible."

John Still, Bristol Rovers' assistant manager and former Dartford and Maidstone boss, confirmed the club's interest. Still, who discovered and developed top scorer Marlon King at Barnet before selling him to Gillingham for £250,000 said: "We've done our homework on Iffy and every report says that he's an outstanding professional and credit to the game. He is a player who could assist with the development of our younger players."

Gillingham player-manager Andy Hessenthaler confessed that economic constraints could see the departures of all three players who are out of contract next month - Mark Saunders, Marcus Browning and Onuora. Last Tuesday saw the passing of the Football League's deadline for players considering news deals from their clubs. Hessenthaler said: "Marcus, Mark and Iffy will be free to go at the end of the month and I'm not sure whether we will be able to keep them at the club.

"The chairman has said that we might let a couple go to balance the books so it might be difficult to offer them all new terms. Rod Wallace and Lloyd Owusu are my top targets and I would be delighted to get them both." Hessenthaler confirmed that the club intended offering Chris Hope an improved contract, though he has two years remaining on his existing deal.

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