SOUTHEND United have ended speculation linking their top goalscorer Gavin Tomlin with a move to League Two promotion rivals Gillingham.

The Kent club have had a minimal bid for the 15-goal striker turned down by Blues.

And a Southend club spokesman confirmed they had no interest in selling Tomlin, whatever the Gills offered.

“We have no interest in selling Gavin,” said the spokesman.

“He’s a very important player in our team and we won’t be letting him leave.

“We’re going for promotion and want to keep our team together to try and make that happen.

“It would make no sense whatsoever to let Gavin leave, especially to one of the other teams going for promotion.

“But whoever comes in and whatever they offer, he won’t be leaving.

“He’s our top goalscorer and we want him to stay and get the goals we need to help us get back into League One.”

Tomlin again proved his importance to the Southend side by scoring the winning goal in his side’s 1-0 triumph at Chesterfield on Saturday.

The effort ended a run of six games without a goal for the striker and again alerted Gillingham, where Tomlin impressed on loan last season.

The forward, who has also played for Brentford and Yeovil Town, scored six goals in nine starts while with the Gills but a change in management prompted him to look elsewhere.

That led to him joining Blues on a one-year deal and he now seems certain to fulfil that contract and remain at Roots Hall, despite interest from Gillingham.

Blues are currently seventh in the League Two standings, while the Gills sit in second place.

Gillingham have also brought in striker Cody McDonald on loan from Norwich City after their bid for Tomlin was turned down just before the weekend.