Assistant manager Geoff Record has wished Jordy Ndozid well after the midfielder was released by Sheppey.
Ndozid leaves the Ites after making 26 appearances this season, scoring once and providing three assists.
With ex-Gills prospect Josh Chambers joining from Chatham and making his debut in a 1-0 defeat against Ramsgate at the weekend, boss Ernie Batten had a decision to make.
“We’d like to thank Jordy for his services,” said Record.
“He’s a brilliant lad and we wish him good luck wherever he decides to play his football.
“We’ve just signed Josh Chambers and he was as good as anyone in our side on Saturday, and he put in a shift.
“We’ve signed a midfield player and let one go and that’s football. Josh is a decent signing. He looks a good footballer to me and he’s only a young man.
“I know he’s got a bit of a background and when he was younger he was predicted to push on.
“He’s only 21 now, so he’s got plenty of football in front of him. It’s up to him to get his head down and nail a place in non-league football.”
Record believes teenage loanees Aaron Archibald and Jimmy Heasman will only benefit from first-team football with the Ites.
The pair, both 17, were handed their full debuts against Isthmian South East leaders Ramsgate, a match Sheppey lost 1-0 to a Jefferson Aibangbee goal.
Defender Archibald, on loan from Leyton Orient, fared well against 40-goal striker Joe Taylor, and Gills youth Heasman player put in a good shift up top before cramping up after taking a knock to the calf.
“I was delighted with our two 17-year-olds,” said Record.
“We took a bit of a gamble by playing them both.
“Aaron, the lad from Orient, was up against Joe Taylor and, to be quite honest, he was brilliant.
“Joe Taylor is the best centre-forward in the league by a mile – he’s a National League player.
“I warned Aaron about him and talked to him about the backing in and the physicality of it all.
“He was very clued up. If you’re at a pro club, it’s all about improving. You’re monitored week by week.
“I thought young Jimmy, although he had to come off after an hour, did really well up front, too.
“I had a long career, and so did Ernie, but I certainly wasn’t playing non-league football in my Southern League days at 17.”
Sheppey played well against Ramsgate and might have taken something on another day.
As it was, their former player Aibangbee scored the only goal shortly after half-time.
“We didn’t get the three points, or even a point, but the performance I thought was really good,” said Record.
“We had arguably the three best chances of the match.
“They’re the best side in the league, they’re not top for no reason.
“They’ve got ex-pros, players who’ve spent many years in the National League and I thought we did well to stick in there and give them a game.
“We can take a lot out of that, bearing in mind who we’re up against.
“Full credit to Ramsgate. They’ve come away from home and put in a good performance themselves and they celebrated big-time when the final whistle went.
“There was a great one-v-one battle for a good hour between Mamadou Diallo (Ites full-back) and Benny Bioletti (Rams wideman).
“It was like watching two Olympic sprinters going at each other. They were running each other both ways. What a battle that was.”
Sheppey lost 2-1 at East Grinstead on Tuesday night, James Taylor with the goal.
This Saturday (3pm), they travel to play-off rivals Margate.
Gate are looking secure in the top five, while the Ites are one of several sides looking to land that last spot.
“We’re both well-supported clubs,” said Record, whose side dropped to sixth after their midweek defeat.
“We lost at home to them but won there 4-2 in the Velocity Cup.
“It was a good game but although we won by two goals it was a tight game and I’m expecting the same again.
“If we play well, we can win.
“The top four places are pretty much nailed on but there’s four teams, maybe even five, who think they can get that fifth place.
“We’ve played a couple of games more than other teams but it’s pretty tight.”
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