Chesterfield transfer target Gavin Gunning reportedly rejects new contract at Gloucester City

The 29-year-old centre-back has ‘turned down’ the offer and is ‘expected to leave’ the National League North club, according to Gloucestershire Live.

Town are interested in signing him but agreed not to make an approach for any more contracted Tigers players after manager James Rowe and striker Akwasi Asante moved to the Technique Stadium.

Whether Gunning rejecting a new contract means Gloucester would change their stance remains to be seen.

Defenders George Carline and Alex Whittle have since joined Rowe and Asante at the Blues, but only after becoming free agents.

Chesterfield chairman, Mike Goodwin, insists that they did not break the terms of the agreement with Gloucester when they signed Carline and Whittle.

“What I would like to do is reassure our supporters that in terms of the players we have taken from Gloucester that we have not broken any regulations or any agreement that we might have had with Gloucester and we have spoken to their chairman before we have actually signed any of those players so the chairman has been quite happy about that,” he explained.

The Dublin-born defender signed for Gloucester in March, with Rowe saying at the time: “He brings bags of experience and at a higher level. At just 29 he can bring a lot across multiple positions. He brings leadership, he is a born leader.”

Gunning started his career at Blackburn Rovers and his previous clubs include Dundee United and Forest Green Rovers.