Aidan Rutledge’s loan at Scarborough Athletic has been extended until the end of the 2023/24 season.
The forward initially joined the Vanarama National League North side in November and has since played a key role in their rise to fourth in the league table by scoring six goals in 11 league games, including a hat-trick against Rushall Olympic.
“It’s a really simple one, it’s what’s best for Aidan Rutledge and what’s best for Gateshead,” said Rob Elliot.
“He’s at a very good club, with a good manager, playing football every week.
“To go from step six to step one is an unbelievable achievement and not many people do that, if any, but he’s handled it so well.
“The most important thing for Aidan in his footballing development is playing games every week, and learning how to play Saturday and Tuesday at a high level against some full time teams and experienced professionals.
“We need to make it completely clear that Aidan is a player we have high hopes for, and we’re not going to rush his development or stand in the way of what is going to develop him into becoming a top player by fixing a short-term need for us.
“All the while I’ve been here, and especially now going forward, we’ll do what’s right for the club and the player in both the short term and in the long term.
“I’ve had good chats with Aidan, and there are things he needs to work on and things he does brilliantly, so he’s in a really good place.
“The challenge for Aidan is to go and make himself the main striker in that league over the next three months or so, and then come next season he’s chomping at the bit.
“We do have a re-call option on him, and he understands that if it gets to the point where we need him to come and affect things here, then that’s an option.
“It’s a really good thing for Aidan in terms of his development and his fitness levels to play 90 minutes every week, and he’s in the right place for that.”
Keep doing what you do best, Aidan!
