According to numerous sources this morning including Pete O’Rourke on X, Wigan winger Jonny Smith is set to join Gareth Ainsworth’s Gillingham side on loan, with a medical booked for this afternoon, having fought off interest off interest from Lincoln City and MK Dons for his signature.
Ryan Lowe has had a clear-out of Wigan’s deadwood this summer, being very clear about which players he doesn’t require for his ideal squad, with the likes of Ronan Darcy and Jon Mellish being openly announced as available for transfer, with Jonny Smith also featuring on this list.
Smith has only featured once in League One this season, coming off the bench for a three-minute cameo against Luton Town, with his only start coming against Stockport County in the Carabao Cup, featuring for 63 minutes, so a loan move away for extra gametimes seems like a logical move for the 28-year-old winger.
Gillingham Sit Top Of The Table
Gillingham currently find themselves at the summit of the League Two table, but despite not playing with designated wingers, preferring a 3-4-1-2 system under Ainsworth, Jonny Smith is still a tidy pickup to allow additional creative spark into Gillingham’s squad, which has lacked depth in recent weeks, with academy graduates regularly on the bench, not helped by a few injury concerns.
He began his professional career with Bristol City, with five loan spells during his time with The Robins, his first coming at Cheltenham Town which was reasonably underwhelming, but his second, third and fourth were major improvements, consistently contributing goals and assist during his time in the National League with AFC Fylde and in League Two with Tranmere Rovers and Oldham Athletic. The final loan spell came at Swindon, before departing permanently for Burton Albion, where he spent two and a half years with The Brewers, scoring 10 goals in 82 appearances.
Smith joined Wigan in the summer transfer window of 2023, but has found himself out of the action recently, despite being a consistent starter in the two seasons prior. Hopefully with a loan spell with The Gills, he can return to his best and continue Gillingham’s flying start in League Two.
