With Max Ehmer leaving Priestfield during the summer to join Bristol Rovers, Gillingham boss Steve Evans is still to name a long-term successor for the captain’s armband.

With the SKYBet League One kick off now just ten days away, Evans has stated that his choice is between two players – Stuart O’Keefe and Kyle Dempsey – and that the final choice is unlikely to be made before the weekend tie with Southend United in the Carabao Cup.

Evans has been talking about the two candidates to KSN and admitted, “They’re two very contrasting figures and both worthy captains in their own right,” the Gills boss told us.

“If it falls in the favour of Stuart, and we’ll decide that next Monday, if it falls in the favour of Stuart then I’m sure that Kyle will be an able deputy back up and vice versa if it falls for Kyle.”

“Stuart O’Keefe is a young man who we’ve known for a bit longer now – an absolutely outstanding professional – but I’ve worked with Kyle before and he’s the same. So, two men who will equally play a big part in our dressing room whether they’ve got the skippers band or whether they’re assisting him.”

“I have a huge amount of time for Kyle both as a player and a young man – I signed him on loan at Peterborough, and he came in off the back of not having real match sharpness, but managed to get himself into the team.”

“Went back and in some matches for Fleetwood was simply stunning – the fact is that he didn’t see eye to eye with people up there in the end. But that’s of no concern to me – I’ve got no interest in any other management team – I think that there’s a good management team up there – but their little difference of opinion has allowed me to sign Kyle who is a wonderful acquisition to be able to bring into the building.”

The decision, we’re told, will be made early next week, but whoever the Gills boss decides on, many Gills fans will feel that the new skipper will have some very big boots to fill.