Mikael Mandron leaves Gillingham and joins Scottish Premiership side Motherwell

Striker Mikael Mandron has left Gillingham and moved north to play in Scotland.

The 28-year-old endured a difficult return to the Gills - coming back to Priestfield in the summer after his earlier spell at the club was cut short during the Covid pandemic. He agreed to a termination of his contract by mutual consent after making 23 league appearances this season and netting only twice. He’s since joined Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.

Frenchman Mandron had spent a couple of years at Crewe in between his two stints at Gillingham. His first saw him net five league goals in 23 matches - with almost half off the bench that time.

His most memorable moment for the Kent side was scoring the equaliser at Brentford in the Carabao Cup to take the tie to penalties. On his previous spell, he scored a double against his former club Sunderland in March 2020, just before the season was suspended.

Mandron has slipped down the pecking order at Gills following some additions in the forward areas. Big striker Oli Hawkins has joined from Mansfield while Tom Nichols has been bought from Crawley Town.

Manager Neil Harris spoke this week about possible departures, saying: “We are a small group, we do need to add to make sure we have strength in depth over the next 23 games, but also we need players to be happy as well. If they don’t feel like they will feature and would like to leave, then I am massively supportive of that as long as we don’t leave ourselves short.

“It has to work for all parties, the players understand and I have had group conversations about it. My door is open, my phone is on, lads can talk to me, not an issue.

“We need to make sure we get the right group of players that are content with where they are at and, once we