Gillingham Football Club fans forum was hosted last night as fans gathered at Priestfield stadiums’ “Great Hall” to ask pressing questions they have about the club and how it is run. The Forum started with the owner of the club Brad Galinson confirming that “Mr Scally was removed as a director earlier today both at the football club and GFC Holdings” due to “treatment of the clubs staff and his management of clubs assets”. This announcement was cheered by fans around the hall.
This followed with the predominant topic of questioning about the stadium, and potential structural improvements to it. In recent weeks, due to the success of the team in League Two this season, the stadium and the housing estate streets around it have become very congested. Complaints from fans about getting into the stadium for the start of games and even “getting a drink at half time” one fan complained yesterday.
To tackle this congestion, the managing director of Gillingham FC, Joe Comper, proposed a new fan zone at the Rainham End, which will hold “nearly 1000 people at half time to be serviced”.
Joe Comper added “we have plans, we have drawings, we have started an application and have quotes for demolition’ but the “current next step is noise tests” for the proposed new fan area.
An elderly resident on Gordan Road when asked about congestion and noise around Priestfield Stadium said “games are at the weekend aren’t they? I don’t mind. But construction near us? Depends how long it takes, we will see (if it is disruptive)”.
However, another resident on Gordan Road complained that “congestion during games has got worse recently”, which does not look to get any better in the near future according to the clubs owner, Brad Galinson.
At the fan forum, Galinson dismissed the idea of moving to a new stadium saying “the residentially nestled Priestfield that has been here for over 130 years is a pretty special thing” which was met with applause by the fans inside the “Great Hall”. He then added that “I and definitely Shannon (his wife and Board of Director) would rather increase the capacity if we could”.
The Gillingham owner was also posed with the question of a roof over the Brian Moore stand, which currently has a temporary style stand which has stood since 2004 after the Town End Terrace was demolished. He said, “the ultimate plan will be a new stand” but the amount of spectators “has not yet surpassed the point where we desperately need a stand”.
Joe Comper added to this: “we are in consultation with the police and the safety advisory group to get permission to put home fans in there (Brian Moore Stand), so we are looking in what we have got until we need something new”.
this was met with a mixed response from Gills fans online. Robert Phipps agreed with the no building approach put forward last night saying, “we need a successful team before we worry too much about the ground”. However, lots of fans felt the need for building action with regards to the out of place looking Brian Moore Stand. Anthony Foster said, “ why would home fans want to sit in an uncovered stand”, and Kayden added “I think the Brian Moore Stand should be upgraded to look similar to the Rainham End” .
Manager Mark Bonner capped off the conference thanking the fans for their kind words and support in recent weeks saying it is “the first time I have walked into a new club and felt at home really quickly”.
All attention now turns to tomorrow afternoon for the Gills as they face Accrington Stanley at home looking to get back to winning ways.