Gillingham FC fans have reacted to news that their club director has been voted out.
Paul Scally was in charge for 27 years from 1995 until he stepped down as chairman following the club’s relegation from League One in 2022.
However, at a shareholders’ meeting today (October 10), chairman Brad Galinson invited members to end Mr Scally’s association with the club.
The resolution to do so with immediate effect was subsequently passed during a meeting inside Priestfield following a vote believed to be 311-11 against Mr Scally.
Yet the 69-year-old has already said he will challenge any such action – something Mr Galinson hinted at during the meeting.
Speaking to about 400 fans at the forum, he said: “We are very frustrated in what little we can say. Mr Scally was removed as director of Gillingham Football Club and GFC Holdings.”
Mr Scally, who was at the club for the earlier vote, believes he is legally entitled to remain on the board.
But Gills fan Graham Perry – known online as Fred – says the former owner needs to walk away as soon as possible.
He has refused to attend matches for more than six years following a bitter feud with the former owner.
The 58-year-old is an administrator of the online Facebook group, Gills Discussion Forum, which Mr Scally labelled in October 2021 as “the catalyst of a lot of the problems that have occurred over the last 18 months.”
Mr Perry though says he needs to do what is in the best interest of the club.
He explained: “I’m pleased Mr Scally has been removed as a director however the process is going to be complicated by his wish to involve the courts.
“I would like Mr Scally to accept he is not wanted by the club’s hierarchy.
“He seems to be wishing to hang on by his fingernails, gripping on the edge of a very, very sharp incline.
“All he needs to do is literally say ‘thank you very much for the good years but it’s time for me to retire.’
“My advice to you, Mr Scally, is to take your money and retire.”
He continued: “He’s a combative figure, which helped him in the early years, but now it’s not working for him.”
Other fans have therefore echoed Mr Perry’s thoughts on the club’s former chairman.
Dave, from Gillingham, said: “I think, put it in context. The man, 25/30 years ago did the club a favour but I think he ran out of money, he ran out of ideas and these people that have come in have done wonders for the club.
“It’s lovely to come down to the football club again and I’m very proud. I’m a Gillingham man through and through, I’m very happy.”
Craig, from Gillingham, said he’d had his best times as a fan under Scally’s ownership but said it was time for him to leave.
He explained: “He started off really well, but he never adapted. I think it’s time to go, I don’t think he knows it’s time to go and this was the push he needed.”
Meanwhile, Paul added: “It’s the right thing for the football club. He’s taken the mick out of the fans for too long and hopefully we can get shot of him very quickly. Then Brad and Shannon can make this club a success.”
Mr Scally took charge of the Gills in 1995, quickly transforming the club’s fortunes by overseeing promotion from Division 4 in his first season and eventually into Division 1 after back-to-back Wembley visits in the play-off finals.
The Gills rose to their highest-ever position, 11th in the second-tier in 2003, but finances took a hit when money expected to finance building works at Priestfield never materialised after the collapse of ITV Digital.
It meant a long-drawn-out negotiation with the club’s bankers to restructure their multi-million-pound debts while, in the meantime, the club dropped out of the Championship in 2005 and back into the bottom tiers of the English Football League, which is where they’ve been ever since.
The club was taken over by husband and wife partnership Brad and Shannon Galinson just under two years ago.
The move by the Florida pair, who bought a majority share in the business, left Mr Scally owning a 30% minority stake and later being downgraded to non-executive director in the summer.
