Indonesia international Elkan Baggott has had his loan spell at EFL League Two side Gillingham being cut short, with parent club Ipswich Town opting to send the defender out on another loan spell for the second half of the 2022/23 season, this time to EFL League One rivals Cheltenham Town.
Baggott had established himself as a regular for Neil Harris’ struggling Gillingham side, being one of Harris’ most trusted men in defense. With his side bottom of League Two, Elkan made 29 appearances and scored three times, guiding the Gills to the round of 16 of the League Cup and the third round of the FA Cup.
However, Baggott scored an own-goal in a 2-1 defeat away at Sutton United in December 30th, leading to him being dropped by Harris in Gillingham’s last three matches. Baggott sat on the bench as Gillingham succumbed to a 1-0 loss away at Stevenage on January 2nd as well as the Gills’ 2-0 home win over fellow relegation battlers Hartlepool United on January 14th, while he was not featured at all in Gillingham’s FA Cup third round defeat at the hands of Premier League side Leicester City on January 7th.
Parent club Ipswich then decided to recall Baggott from Gillingham, before sending him out on loan once again to fellow League One side Cheltenham for the remainder of the current season. The Robins currently sit 18th in the 24-team league, four points clear off Cambridge United in the final relegation spot.
“I’m delighted to be here. I’m ready to get going, and help in the best way I can to assure we stay in this league,” said a delighted Baggott, as quoted from Cheltenham’s official website, “I want to help out at both ends of the pitch. Obviously I need to do my defensive work, but I want to chip in and help add goals too.”