By Jack Nolan
March 20 2007

Gills complete the loan signing of Barnsley's Dale Tonge. Tonge comes as a welcome boost for The Gills with Andrew Crofts on international duty this weekend and Mike Flynn a doubt for the long trip to Carlisle. The Barnsley midfielder was a key member of Barnsley's promotion winning side from League One last season. Jepson will have Tonge until the day after The Gills' home game against Port Vale on April 21st, and Jepson revealed the loan signings hopefully won't end their with the loan deadline just two days away. Speaking to the clubs official site, Jepson said: "I'm on it with the chairman at the moment with one or two and we are trying, but so is every other club in the Football League and we are all falling over each other for certain players, and we are trying our best to attract them here, as are the other clubs, so we will see what comes of it between now and Thursday."

Jepson also revealed how pleased he is to add Jepson to his small squad. He added: "He's a good addition to the squad, he played in the promotion winning Barnsley team last year on a regular basis and I've seen him play on a number of occasions, and he will help strengthen our team, and I think the supporters will like what they see," said Gills manager Ronnie Jepson."

Tonge himself was also pleased to come to Priestfield, having struggled to break into the Barnsley side. Tonge said: "I'm grateful to the gaffer here for taking me, and also to Simon Davey at Barnsley for letting me come here, and hopefully I can show what I can do.

"I've spoken to a few people including Scott Flinders, and they have had nothing but good things to say about the club, and that is why I knew it was a good decision to come to," concluded Tonge.

Tonge will start against Carlisle this Saturday, with Crofts in the squad to play Ireland in the memoral occasion at Croke Park, and Mike Flynn struggling with a chest injury.