Reading FC Allow Goalkeeper To Leave On Loan

After being dropped back to third-choice in the Royals' pecking order, Jonathan Bond will spend the rest of 2016 with Gillingham, as the club confirms a four-month loan deal.

While he did manage 14 appearances in his opening campaign in Berkshire, the former England Under-21 international finds himself behind both Ali Al-Habsi and Ansi Jaakkola in Jaap Stam's squad, making it the sensible option to move away temporarily. With the Omani custodian close to running down his contract, some first-team football would come at the right time for the former Watford man, who has also only just come back from an injury lay-off.

Bond will provide competition for Gills veteran keeper Stuart Nelson, who is club vice-captain but also can be blamed for an error in the season-opener against Southend that may have forced manager Justin Edinburgh to look elsewhere. Furthermore, it was at Priestfield that Reading sent Dominic Samuel for first-team experience during the last campaign, and with the League One club sticking to their promise regarding valuable minutes for the striker, the Royals appear happy to trust them with young keeper Bond.

In other news, Rob Dickie has re-joined Cheltenham Town on loan until January 2, the defender was part of the Robins' promotion campaign in 2015/16 and is ready to make the step up into League Two alongside Gary Johnson's men.