I think we have to accept the LGW link is gone and unlikely to return.
It's also worth noting that in the summer scheduling season, LGW is very slot constrained in the morning so getting a decent slot that can connect into long haul departure banks at either end of the route would be hard to find and likely have to come at the cost of another service. Would a MAN route offer a higher yield than a service already operating? Probably not otherwise the MAN route would be the one with service, and not the other route.