 After he left the club, in late December 2008, caretaker manager Tony Parkes immediately began naming Gilks as a substitute.After a number of matches as an unused substitute, Gilks made his league debut for Blackpool on 31 January 2009, after Paul Rachubka was sent off three minutes into "the Seasiders"' match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.Gilks was brought on and helped "the Seasiders" to a 1–0 win.