Resident hardman has already been sent off three times in his career, but Mark Stimson has been impressed with his rough house tactics
Aggressive, no-nonsense central defender Richards was snapped up by the Gills in January 2008 from Southend and went on to make 14 League One appearances for the club in the second half of that season.
Originally a trainee with Colchester, Richards made his debut for the U’s in September 2005 at Bristol City and totalled 20 league outings for them before joining the Shrimpers in August 2007 via loan spells at Ebbsfleet and Brentford.
Richards is an imposing presence at the heart of the back-line, although his inexperience has let him down occasionally, already receiving three red cards in his career with one in just his sixth outing for Gillingham.