Paul Scally believes club are in a good position to push further after clinching promotion
Gillingham Chairman Paul Scally said it was a special feeling to gain promotion in front of the home faithful at Priestfield, and is excited by the prospect of playing in League One next season.
It is the fourth promotion that Scally has presided over since becoming Chairman in 1995, and praised Manager Martin Allen for the impact he has had on the club since arriving last July.
Speaking after the 1-0 win over Torquay he said:
“When we got promoted at Fulham in the 95/96 season it didn’t feel like a promotion because we went in to the dressing room and didn’t realise we had been promoted until someone came in, and we thought we better go back out.
“It never felt like a promotion but it was wonderful to do it in front of our own fans and I think the last home game of the season, hopefully we can clinch the championship by then, and that will be a big party and a special day.
“It’s very special; this is the first promotion with what I would call a `new ship` in place. This is a new ship which doesn’t have any issues or problems which we have had for the last seven or eight years – we are very healthy as a club, we have got good management that work well together, good backroom staff.
“We have a good balance sheet, good profit and loss, we are not in debt to anyone and not a lot of clubs can say that right now.
“I think we are well poised to sail this ship on an interesting journey and one which we have not been able to sail on before.”
It is eight years since the Gills were relegated from the Championship, and the Chairman says there is no reason why the club cannot return to the second tier within the next couple of years.
He added: “One of the benefits of promotion is that we are a step closer to the Championship, and stating the obvious you can’t get to the Championship without going through League One.
“It isn’t a massive cash benefit to being in League One over League Two, but we will be playing some better sides so that will be more attractive, we will be playing better football and we will have a bit more of a budget so we can bring in better players - it will be an interesting season.
“There are a number of teams that have done back to back promotions and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t aswell.
“We brought good players in and we have a lot of good characters I think. They are all together to a man, even the lads who were not involved today.
“What will be interesting and exciting is to see how these players cope with League One football because I think most of them have coped well and I think most of them could go on and play in the Championship.
“We are promoted, the third objective has been achieved and there is just one more to achieve now.
“I still think it will be 84 to win the Championship. Two draws, another win and we want to win it badly now and a lot of the pressure is off, we can play for fun a bit more now.”
To watch the Chairman’s post match press conference click here.
For the thoughts of Manager Martin Allen click here.