Gillingham FC & Gareth Ainsworth urged to seal dream transfer for Mansfield Town "leader" | OneFootball

FLW's Gillingham fan pundit has been discussing the one player they'd like to see the Gills sign this summer.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Gillingham FC will be looking to enjoy a strong first summer transfer window under the management of Gareth Ainsworth.

The former Wycombe Wanderers, Shrewsbury and QPR boss became Gillingham's new manager in March, following the departure of John Coleman.

Ainsworth was able to get a tune out of his new side, with the Gills going unbeaten in their final nine League Two games of the season.

However, they were still only able to muster a 17th-placed finish in the fourth tier, meaning their 12th-placed finish in 2023/24 remains the club's best placing in League Two since their relegation from League One in 2021/22.

"Hard as nails" - Gillingham told to sign out of contract Mansfield Town star Aden Flint

We asked our Gillingham fan pundit, Warren Taylor: 'What is one realistic signing you'd love Gillingham to make this summer, and why?'

Taylor said: "The one realistic signing I'd like to see Gillingham make this summer is probably Aden Flint from Mansfield Town.

"I know he's been given a free transfer, but he is a leader, he's known promotion from League Two, and he's as hard as nails.

"The one person that I'd like to see sign for Gillingham is someone who's got that sort of temperament and leadership quality. I think that's what we've been lacking over the last few seasons, and Flint, I think, fits the bill quite nicely.

"If not Aden Flint, then I think George Stanger from Ayr United has been mentioned. A New Zealander who also plays centre-back, and from all accounts he's quite big and strong, and got a bit of a nasty streak to him.

"So, they're probably the two players, but Aden Flint for me."

Aden Flint could provide Gillingham with shrewd short-term Max Ehmer replacement

Gillingham FC released their retained list for the 2025/26 season on 14 May, and it confirmed the departure of a modern-day Gills hero - Max Ehmer.

The 33-year-old centre-back first joined the club on loan from QPR in November 2014, and would eventually sign a permanent contract with Gillingham in the summer of 2015.

Since then, the German defender has largely been a mainstay in the starting XI at Priestfield Stadium, despite temporarily departing the club in 2020, spending one season with Bristol Rovers.

Ehmer has made 439 appearances for the club during his decade-long association with the Gills, and has worn the captain's armband for a number of those years.

As such, his experience and leadership presence at the back will be sorely missed, and so bringing in a player such as Flint could go a long way to easing that concern.

The towering defender has racked up over 260 appearances at Championship level during his career, as well as over 160 in League One and just shy of 80 in League Two - per Transfermarkt.

Now 35, the former Bristol City and Middlesbrough man - among others - is heading towards the free agent market this summer, as his Mansfield Town contract is set to expire in June.

Flint started 45 of Mansfield's 46 League Two games in 2023/24, playing a vital role in helping the club to automatic promotion to League One.

Therefore, with numerous promotions on his CV, recent experience of that in League Two, and set to be available for nothing in a few weeks, Flint could tick a lot of boxes for Gillingham.