By Luke Cawdell

Andy Hessenthaler has slammed the conduct of their League 2 rivals Swindon.

On the eve of Gillingham’s FA Cup tie with Stoke, their league counterparts revealed that they had made a bid for Luke Rooney (pictured).

The Swindon chairman Jeremy Wray told his local radio station on Friday that Rooney was "someone we are pursuing". It left the Gillingham boss fuming.

Hessenthaler said: "I am not going to get into a war with Swindon but to actually come out and put it into the press the day before a big FA Cup tie. I am disappointed in their chairman and I know my chairman is livid as well.

"They have had a private conversation and to come out onto Radio Wiltshire and say that they had made a six-figure bid is not good conduct for me and the way that business should be done.

"We won’t go into that any more but that’s the way we feel about it."

Rooney was offered a new deal in November but refused to sign and was dropped from the side. Only recently has he been included again.

The 21-year-old is free to talk with other clubs as his contract expires in the summer and Hessenthaler could be ready to cash in.

"Mr Wray told BBC Wiltshire: "For whatever reason he’s (Rooney) decided he’s come to the end of his time at Gillingham and obviously they’ve got to do the best by them to make sure they get the best price."

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