QPR boss confirms Kelman will not return to Gillingham

Mark Warburton has confirmed that Charlie Kelman will not be going back to Gillingham.

Kelman, 20, returned to QPR this week after becoming frustrated at being overlooked by Gills boss Steve Evans.

He joined the Kent club on a season-long loan in August but started just three league matches.



Rangers and Gillingham agreed that Kelman would return to west London for a week or so while a decision was taken on whether his loan will continue. And it won’t. 

QPR boss Warburton has been keen to establish what has gone wrong for Kelman at Priestfield.

He wants Kelman, who was signed from Southend United last year, to pick up more first-team experience.

Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon wanted him in the final stages of the summer transfer window and there is an acceptance at Rangers that the wrong choice was made.

“He won’t go back to Gillingham,” confirmed Warburton.

“Our job is to find out exactly what happened and make sure that we look at the best options for Charlie going forward.

“These relationships with other clubs are good for everyone concerned.

“You want players to go out and play on loan. He didn’t get enough pitch time and the loan was not a good loan for Charlie.

“We have to see was it the right choice at the time. Could we have decided better as a club? Maybe. Could we have had a stronger role in it? Maybe.

“Was it a case that it just didn’t work out? That happens at times.

“It was a good move to League One and you’d like Charlie to go there, get 12-15 games, score goals and come back.

“Some loans work out and some don’t these things happen.”