ROLAND EDGE has been left "devastated" after being released by Gillingham. The 24-year-old defender was released on a free transfer on Thursday after failing to agree terms for a new contract.

But a source close to the player told the Medway Messenger the contract offered to him was the same as the one he'd been on when he was less experienced and took no account of the progress he'd made .

The source said: "Roland is devastated. This is his home club and he wanted to stay here but the club have vastly undervalued him.

"It's a little too early for me to talk about where he will go from here because he's still coming to terms with this shock news. But I'll be very surprised if he isn't playing football in Division 1 next season.

"He has the ability to play at this level and, in my opinion, at an even higher level although it won't be easy to get a Premiership club because he's not a big name.

"However, when he played against Leeds last season he certainly didn't disgrace himself in the two games. Not many players can say that when facing Alan Smith."

He added: "Gillingham weren't willing to offer Roland a different type of contract from the one he was on for the last three years. That contract was right for Roland because it gave him an incentive to play more games for the club.

"At that time, mainly due to injuries, he hadn't made more than 18 appearances in one season. However, last season he played 37 games and Roland feels that his new contract should reward the progress he has made. It didn't.

"The club probably feel the best way to change their personnel around is to let the out-of-contract players in the squad leave and bring in other out-of-contract players.

"I'm not sure the manager will agree because I believe he wanted to keep Roland but it's inevitable in this climate.

"There is no blame attached to Gillingham because they aren't the only club in this predicament. Unfortunately Roland is a victim of the circumstances within football at the moment. The sport is going through some tough times."