Gillingham midfielder Stuart O’Keefe will be leaving the club this summer and received a special mention from manager Neil Harris

Midfielder Stuart O’Keefe is assured of a glowing reference as he searches for a new club this summer.

O’Keefe, 32, leaves Gillingham with his head held high after playing over 100 league games for the club and captaining the side during some tough times.

Gillingham manager Neil Harris turned to new signings in January to get them firing and the arrivals of Timothee Dieng, George Lapslie and Ethan Coleman pushed the captain down the pecking order. He hasn’t played since February and won’t feature again.

Harris kept his skipper close, however, even if he wasn’t involved in games, often praising the experienced man’s dedication and quality in training. But the Gills have moved on and now O’Keefe will be looking for a new challenge.

Confirming the departure on Wednesday, Harris said: “He is going to leave us for pastures new and a special mention to him as my club captain, he has been outstanding but it is time for Stuey to have a change.

“When times were tough for us this season people like Stuey and Shaun Williams and Alex MacDonald held us together off the pitch.

“He won’t travel with us at the weekend (when the Gills head to Salford) and we won’t see him in the building now, he’s not needed, but wherever he goes to play next season he will be a credit to whatever club he goes to.”

The relationship between manager and player remains good - which is lucky as they live in the same town.

“He is close,” said the manager. “We will bump into each other from time to time and I am sure we will be having a game of golf or a cup of coffee over the summer because he is a absolute great lad.

“He will be going to a new club in the summer and the first person they phone for a reference will be me, he will get a glowing reference