FORMER Gillingham midfielder Simon Osborn is refusing to get into a war of words with Paul Scally over his abrupt departure from Priestfield.

After the chairman announced that the 31-year-old had agreed a new two-year deal and would be staying, Osborn stunned the club and fans by signing for Division 1 rivals Walsall.

In a statement on Gillingham’s official website, Mr Scally retorted to Osborn's change heart by declaring: “He and I shook hands on the deal. We were well apart on terms at the start of our negotiations, but we gradually came together and in the end I agreed to go the extra bit to accommodate Simon's needs.

“He asked me to draw up the new contract so he could sign it and spend the rest of his career at Priestfield. But obviously a gentleman's agreement is not what it used to be.

“I don’t think the conduct of his agent helped but in the end it was down to Simon because he is the one whose hand I shook when we agreed the deal. He is obviously not the kind of person I thought he was.”

Osborn, who signed a two-year deal at Walsall, responded by saying: “So far as the contract is concerned, some things didn’t happen and that’s when Walsall came in.”

He declined to elaborate but added: “I know what Paul Scally has said about me and my agent, Gary Porter.

“At this stage, neither of us want to get involved. I also know also I’ve been labelled a Judas on certain websites by individuals who have no idea about what went on with the contract negotiations.

“I will remind those people that there are two sides to every story and right now I prefer not to give mine. Maybe, if I write a book in the near future, I will make public certain things, but not now.

“What I will say is that picking up the phone to tell Andy Hessenthaler that I was going to Walsall was the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in my career.

“I knew how keen Andy was for me to stay which he had made public on many occasions while my contract negotiations were on-going. He wanted me to be an integral part of his team and I’m truly sorry I will not be able to fulfil that role.

“I should like to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he did for me at Gillingham. I should also like to thank a fabulous bunch of players who made my stay so happy.

“And also the two physiotherapists, Kevin and George, for all their painstaking work with me. Last, and by no means least, the supporters who were always behind me. The reception they gave me when I returned from injury against Brighton will live with me forever.”

Contrary to popular belief, Osborn was not living in the Midlands and commuting to Kent after spells with Wolves and Port Vale. He had moved to a house in Petts Wood just outside Bromley.

He stressed; “Leaving Gillingham was a huge wrench in more ways than one because I’ve got to up and move back to the Midlands."

Hessenthaler described the loss of Osborn as a major blow. He said: “Everyone knows how keen I was to keep him and I thought the deal had been done and dusted.

“We have plenty of midfield players but Simon gave us something different. He was going to be a big part of my plans which I must now re-think.”