1.8 gearbox link

Hi, I appreciate this may be posted elsewhere but couldn't see it. I recently had my gear box link go on my 1.8 Freelander (2004). Lost the pin but managed to fit a nut & bolt through it to get me home. However there's now LOADS of play on the gear changes and once it's in gear (which is tricky to find) you can move the stick around from far left to right. It still drives but it's a nightmare finding 1st & 5th. Any advice? Cheers

Was the bolt a tight fit? What type of bolt did you use?

Replace the missing roll pin? How many Km on the vehicle as the linkage's joints could all be worn too.