Palmer quits Walsall for Gillingham
Walsall's pre-season plans were thrown into confusion last night after Chris Palmer made a shock switch to Gillingham.
The versatile wideman had agreed a new one-year deal with the Saddlers and reported for pre-season training last week, but his contract was unsigned.
Palmer's exit leaves boss Chris Hutchings with just 17 professionals, less than two weeks before their first warm-up game at Rotherham.
The Saddlers expected the 25-year-old to sign his deal and news of his defection comes as a blow, with the reasons for the switch still unclear.
Palmer made 44 appearances for Walsall, scoring once, and played in every wide position after being signed on a six-month deal by former manager Jimmy Mullen last summer.
In January, the club took up their option to extend his deal until the end of last season, but the player requested a transfer because he was unhappy with the terms of the contract.
He remained on the transfer list until agreeing to extend his stay, but now moves to the promoted Gills on a two-year deal.
