While Gillingham may be trying to bolster its roster, they may find that two smart additions they made from Leyton Orient in 2023 may be just as significant in the coming years.

The team signed midfielder Ethan Coleman from the O’s in January of that year, and the following summer they returned to the London club to recruit defender Shadrach Ogie. They both signed for unknown prices, and going forward, they could prove to be extremely useful additions to the team in a variety of ways.

Since joining Priestfield, Coleman has grown quickly. He has been a mainstay on the Gills roster after successfully filling in for seasoned midfielder Shaun Williams in the middle of the team’s midfield.

Coleman has filled in that role thus far with great skill. Every team needs a player who can anchor the midfield, hold the centre of the pitch, and act as a shield for the defence.

The midfield anchor position can occasionally go unnoticed by the crowd since it has the unglamorous task of stopping play and then setting up an easy pass to initiate an attack. But the Gills supporters, who have come to value powerful, aggressive centre midfielders as a part of the Priestfield heritage, have given Coleman high marks for his performances.

Even though Coleman has taken over the defensive centre midfield position at Gillingham, Ogie was a near-constant in the starting lineup the previous season. His strength, speed, and aerial dominance have added extra punch to the Gills’ defence, whether he is playing on the left of a back three or in a center-half pairing with Max Ehmer or Conor Masterson. Ogie was one of the standout players under Neil Harris early in the season as the team surged to the top of the table after a run of 1-0 victories. His impressive displays helped the team secure clean sheets in the team’s first four league games.

However, as the season went on and Gillingham’s performance declined, Ogie began to lose confidence and make a few errors in his play. Even though he is only 22 years old, his overall play has indicated that he has all the makings of a center-half mainstay and the obvious replacement for seasoned centre defender Ehmer in the upcoming seasons.

The defensive alignment of new Gills manager Mark Bonner is still to be determined, but if he opts for a flat back four, Ogie and Ehmer will likely compete to play alongside the team’s Player of the Year, Masterson, in the centre of the Gills’ defence come playoff time.

The presence of young talent like Coleman and Ogie already in the squad means the club shouldn’t need to pay large transfer fees to address those key roles in the upcoming seasons, as Gillingham will need to use owner Brad Galinson’s funds to address squad shortages in other areas. Their respective awards for Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year also demonstrate the impact they’ve already made at ME7.

If both players keep improving at Priestfield, they may potentially present a chance for some big incoming cash if teams further up the football hierarchy take notice of their ability.

Coleman and Ogie have the most potential to be the teams in the lower divisions that can develop young players and turn a profit from them in the upcoming seasons.

Undoubtedly, though, Gills supporters won’t want to see either player go at this time because both are expected to play important parts at Priestfield over the next few seasons as the team prepares for a promotion drive this next season.