Vote on Paul Scally's future with the Gills
Owner Brad Galinson told around 400 fans at an open forum on Thursday evening that he was frustrated in what little could be said about the director's departure.
Bartholomew Hall reports.
Bartholomew Hall reports.
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00:00I've invested 29 years of my life in trying to enable the club to fulfil its huge potential.
00:07The words of now ex-director and former owner of Gillingham FC, as the club's board of directors
00:12have overwhelmingly voted to reject his involvement.
00:16Back in 1995, Paul Scali purchased the Medway Club for a grand total of £1, taking on debt
00:23estimated to have been up to £2m at the time. What followed was a golden era for the club,
00:28spending five years in the championship, making three trips to Wembley and rebuilding
00:33Priestfield Stadium.
00:35But in recent years, the relationship between Scali and the fans has started to drift.
00:39I think we need to draw a line under what's been in the past. There's been good, there's
00:43been bad, there's all sorts of controversy, there's a lot of things been stated about
00:48the former chairman, the owner. It's time that we did move on. We've got new owners
00:53in the club who are very positive.
00:55So after relinquishing ownership in 2022 to American business tycoon Brad Gallinson, Scali
01:01remained on the board, but following what the club has described as an investigation,
01:05a vote has now been passed to remove him entirely.
01:08However, writing on his website, Scali says he believes he or someone of his choosing
01:13is entitled to remain on the board of directors, something the club has rejected as a legal
01:17misconception. It's expected now that Scali, who still has a 30% minority stake, may look
01:23to challenge the decision.
01:25Obviously, we would think there would be at least one question about the board of directors
01:29issue that's been going on.
01:30At a fan forum, the issue was quickly raised, but Mr. Gallinson says his cards were forced
01:35to stay close to his chest.
01:36We are very frustrated with how little we can say about it. So number one is that Mr.
01:42Scali was removed as a director earlier today, both at the football club and GFC Holdings.
01:49So that was concluded.
01:54So whilst fans hope to see how this off-pitch drama plays out, the hope is that Gillingham
01:59can keep its eye on the ball on the pitch and move forward into a new era of stability
02:04and success.
02:05Bartholomew Hall for CAME TV.