Gills switch for young defender

gills
  • West Ham defender Josh Pask has joined Gillingham on loan
  • The 18-year-old recently signed a new contract with the Hammers
  • He joins the Gills following on from last season’s spell at Dagenham and Redbridge

West Ham United defender Josh Pask has agreed a loan deal with League One side Gillingham.
 
The 18-year-old, who has captained the Hammers’ Development Squad on a number of occasions this pre-season, joins the Gills on a season-long loan agreement with an option for a recall.
 
Pask, who also enjoyed a spell in League Two with Dagenham and Redbridge last season, was delighted to put pen to paper with the Gills.
 
He said: “I’m very happy. It’s taken a while getting here, but I’m here now so I’m delighted to get out and play some League football.
 
“I’d like to get more games at Gillingham than I did at Dagenham last season, and hopefully being in the league above, it will be of a better quality too. West Ham have really helped me this summer.
 
“I’m looking to just play as many games as I can and impress. League One is a competitive league. I need to train well and be consistent as that’s what it will take to get in and stay in the team.”
 
The centre-back recently signed a new three-year deal with the Hammers to keep him at the Club until 2019, and he revealed his excitement to join up with his new teammates.
 
“Paul Konchesky has just joined, and he’s a really nice guy who I know well. He’s taken me around and has helped me out, which is great.
 
“The team are looking very strong, even in my first training session, so I’m looking forward to the first game.
 
“The manager Justin Edinburgh seems like a top guy as well, and it seems as though he wants to play football, which is great. I’m very excited to get underway.”
 
Pask is the second Hammer of the day to make a loan switch to League One, following Josh Cullen’s return to Bradford City.