Gillingham trio Joshua Bayliss, Taite Holtam and Stanley Skipper sign professional deals at the League 2 club – Harry Bridle and Will de Wilde have their apprenticeship programs extended

Gillingham have handed professional contracts to three of their youth scholars.

Goalkeeper Taite Holtam, midfielder Stan Skipper and forward Josh Bayliss have all signed professional contracts with the League 2 club.

In addition, Harry Bridle and Will de Wilde have been handed extended scholarship deals.

Skipper - the nephew of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard - joined Isthmian League side Ashford United towards the end of the 2023/24 season.

He had made his debut in the Gills’ senior side in the EFL Trophy at Portsmouth back in October, coming off the bench to replace Dom Jefferies.

Bayliss was also at Ashford United on loan and the pair impressed Alan Walker, who was interim boss there at the time.

He said of them: “I’d imagine those two have got a great future from what I’ve seen so far.

“They’re fantastic pros and very good players.”

Holtam has been in and around the Gillingham first team for past two seasons and was an unused substitute against Wrexham and Grimsby Town this season.

Gillingham director of football Kenny Jackett said: "I am really pleased that Taite, Joshua and Stanley have committed to signing professional terms with us.

“Over the last two years they have been consistent performers in the youth team and we will be working hard with them over the next 12 months to enable them to be considered for first-team consideration.”

Those leaving the club are Kai Garrett, Leighton Murray, Tobey Smith, Dami Taiwo-Pratt and Josh Woodliffe.