Kenny Gillet, Barnet’s French full back, has turned down an offer of an improved contract from manager, Mark Stimson. This will come as a great disappointment to many Barnet fans as Gillet was a very popular player at Underhill.
Gillet joined Barnet in August 2007 from French club, Caen and, having missed the first four matches of the season, quickly became a first team regular at the club. An injury picked up at Chesterfield meant that Kenny missed the next nine matches but he came back for the FA Cup tie with Gillingham and it was his fine cross that was fired home by Liam Hatch to give the Bees a 2-1 win against a League One club. Gillet was a regular throughout Barnet’s FA Cup run to the 4th round for the second successive season before losing 1-0 to Bristol Rovers at Underhill and even moved over to the centre back position in the Boxing Day match at Underhill against Dagenham & Redbridge.
Gillet made an unfortunate start to the 2008/09 season being sent off in the 1st round of the Carling Cup against Brighton, having scored his first goal for the club in the pre-season friendly against Arsenal, a finely hit free kick from outside the penalty area. Gillet returned to the side after suspension in a side that was struggling to gain many points. A second sending off at Accrington in January lead to new manager, Ian Hendon bringing in Colchester left back, Matt Lockwood on loan and Gillet was banished to the bench. Lockwood played his part in Barnet’s surge up the table away from the relegation zone and Gillet only returned to the side after Lockwood returned to Colchester in April.
Gillet started last season as regular left back but an injury sustained in the home match with Morecambe brought in new signing Ahmed Deen and Gillet could count himself a bit fortunate to get back into the side on his return as Deen had played his part in a five match winning streak.
As Barnet’s from began to slump after a promising start, Hendon again brought in Lockwood, ironically for the away match at Morecambe and for the rest of the season, Gillet was either on the bench or filling in at centre back, where, it has to be said he looked very comfortable, displaying a new sense of versatility. Gillet even played on the left side of midfield as well. Gillet may have felt that the club did not have the confidence in him to play him regularly at left back throughout the season.
It was a surprise to many fans when Gillet was released at the end of last season, but, following new manager, mark Stimson’s offer of a new contract, it seemed that Kenny was going to stay on at Underhill but it is not meant to be. I’m sure that all barnet fans will wish Kenny all the best for the future.
Kenny Gillet’s playing record at Barnet:
|
|
STARTS |
SUB APPEARANCES |
GOALS |
|
LEAGUE |
89 |
11 |
|
|
FA CUP |
11 |
|
|
|
LEAGUE CUP |
2 |
|
|
|
JPT |
2 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
104 |
11 |
|