Stuart O’Keefe looking for another challenge after being released by Gillingham

Outgoing Gillingham captain Stuart O’Keefe believes he still has plenty to offer in the Football League.

O’Keefe, 32, leaves the Gills this summer after four years at the club.

With just two league starts since January, he knew his time was up, but feels he still played a part in the club’s turnaround, giving his all as captain even when not being selected.

He said: “Football is never going to go the way you want it to every season, every day - you have to give some to get some. I wanted to be playing, I was frustrated, I wanted to be part of a winning team.

“I wanted to be winning games of football, I wanted to see the fans cheering because what I remember at the start of the season it wasn’t like that. It would have been nice to be part of a winning team but it wasn’t meant to be.

“At the same time I had a duty, I was still club captain, I am not going to fold and not be part of it, I still had a job to do off the pitch and on the training pitch, driving those sessions, making sure everyone is the best they could be and on top of their game, that is what I learned this season.

“I have to be a leader off the pitch and on the training pitch to keep the boys on their toes.

“I like to think I played a massive part. Obviously I might not be playing on a Saturday but I have every day of that week to be a leader, to be a captain, even in the dressing room before and after games, saying what I want to say, encouraging and being positive, giving the boys belief.

“There are times when you have bad results and training can be a bit of a slog, it can be hard. You have to be the one to drive it, make sure standards are high and that everyone in the building is being as professional and as honest as they can be.

“It was tough not