Left-back David Tutonda was offered a new deal at Gillingham but won’t be first choice next season in League 2

David Tutonda looks likely to be moving on after Gillingham clinched a deal for promotion-winner Max Clark.

Gills’ new signing Clark helped Stevenage to a second place finish in League 2 last season and looks set to command a starting berth - something Tutonda is keen on himself.

Manager Neil Harris insists the door remains open for Tutonda, with a contract offer on the table, but expects the 27-year-old to seek first-team opportunities elsewhere.

“We've got no further with David,” said the Gills boss.

“(There has been) a lot of negotiations, a lot of talking over the last few weeks and willingness from both sides to try and keep David.

“The doors is not completely shut.

“We brought Max in to to be very competitive in that position and when you sign a player of Max’s calibre, a natural left-footed full-back who won promotion last year, with the pedigree of playing in Europe and in the Championship, Max quite rightly would expect to come in and play.

“Whoever else we sign in that position is going to have to fight extremely hard to remove him.

“David has been thinking about where he wants to be, a guaranteed number three shirt. I think Davis is very focused on thinking about maybe looking at options elsewhere.

“Negotiations have stopped now. The best way to describe it is the door’s not shut for David at Gillingham but I think it's unlikely that David will come back.”

Harris admits he may not even need to bring in a back-up for the left-back position, with Robbie McKenzie and Cheye Alexander both capable of playing there.

“It’s not one we're looking to do immediately,” he said. “There's other areas we want to focus on now, rather than the left back.

“We're really pleased with Max Clark as a natural left-footed left-back