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Iwan looks set to leave Priestfield
Talking to the East Anglian press, he said, “If I'm being totally honest I don't think I will be at Gillingham next season.”
While the Gills played their dramatic 2-2 draw with Wolves last weekend, Roberts was reportedly confined to the team bus at Molineux due to his flu bug, which also rules him out for tonight's match with West Ham United.
Many fans have believed that Roberts has been out of the picture due to injury, but according to the man himself, that's certainly not the case.
“I have not played many games of late, to be honest, and I've been fit and available up to now.
“It's disappointing because we have not been scoring much recently and I've only been given the occasional run-out as a substitute.”
As well as seeing his first-team opportunities disappearing under Ternent, Roberts also feels his coaching role is being compromised under the new management team.
“The coaching side has also dried up since the new manager took over. He brought his own man down with him in Ronnie Jepson and it doesn't look as though I am part of his plans. I've been frozen out a little bit really.
“It hasn't been the best of times for me, I must say. It's been tough, to be honest. Obviously we are struggling near the bottom, which is never nice, while it was a big blow to me when Andy Hessenthaler stepped down as manager.
“He brought me to the club and I got on really well with him. When he was here I was involved all the time. I scored a few goals and like to think I did a good job for the side.
“I also took the boys for training sessions and was really enjoying myself.
“I thought I was settling in well – but things change in football and if I'm totally honest I don't think I will be at Gillingham next season now.”
Roberts' aim this season was to concentrate on playing, with a plan to move into a more permanent coaching role next season, but it may be that avenue is not available to him at Gillingham.
“I'd like to get into coaching somewhere else; that will be my top priority during the summer,” said the man released by the Canaries at the end of last term after scoring 96 goals in 306 appearances for the club.
“I'll be doing my A licence – so if everything goes to plan I should soon have all the qualifications I need.
“If a vacancy ever came up at Carrow Road I would seriously consider putting in for it. I know the club inside out and I also know most of the people there.
“But I've got a lot of friends elsewhere too, a lot of good contacts in the game, so hopefully I should have one or two options up my sleeve.”
He appears keen to continue playing this season - and a loan move for the rest of the season may be a possibility.
“I don't think I will still be playing next season – although I wouldn't mind going somewhere on loan now.
“I think Colchester and Cambridge rang up to enquire what the situation was – so going to one of those clubs might be a possibility.
“I always said that this season I wanted to concentrate on playing more than anything else – and hopefully I should find out what's what in the next few days.
“Rob Newman is at Cambridge now and he knows what I can do. I'd relish the challenge of going there and helping them out for a few months.”
Gills365 Opinion:
Iwan is one of football's nice guys - and it is a shame to hear about this situation. Clearly, Stan Ternent wants to run things his way, with his own people, which is understandable, but in this situation, there are often casualties. It seems big Iwan Roberts may be one of them.
Sometimes things don't always work out as planned in football, but wherever Iwan ends up, he will be a committed and enthusiastic presence, whether on the pitch or on the training ground. Should he decide his future lies away from Gillingham, we at Gills365 wish the big man well.