Scally steps back

[hessisgod]

Lots of people have got what they want. Scally isn’t running the club as Paul Fisher takes over.
I wonder if that’ll shut a few people up or it still won’t be enough?

[donut]

Depends who Paul fisher is surely, if he s a clone I’m not happy.

[swansgills888]

This Paul Fisher guy looks like another yes man to Scally.

JUST ANOTHER FRONT FOR SCROOGE.

SCALLY "I let you run the club until things calm down, because everybody hates me here in Kent and I don't know why. I hope you can turn the fortunes of the club around with no money because I have hidden it in a garage in Redfearn Avenue this season and if the clubs fortunes do somehow turn around, I will be back.
By the way I am taking all government funding monies from the GFC School with me too. I must kid glove the fans into believing I am really ill and gain some sympathy. The Gills fans are easy to please and follow each other like sheep, I have had my way for last 26 years."

"TO THIS DAY, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF SCALLY OUT."

[swansgills888]

The guy Paul Fisher will be looking after Penfold's interest and this has obviously been well planned because toxic chairman has been very quiet.

It will not change the clubs poor image in its own fans eyes.

Just somebody who is fronting and taking the heat off the most hated chairman in the club's history.

[hessisgod]

My condolences to you swans at this difficult time.

Looks to me like Paul Fisher has a very decent cv.

Scally has gone, gills won at the weekend.

You’ll have nothing to drunkenly post about in the wee hours of the night.

[mancunianinmedway]

I’m not surprised that some people aren’t happy with this news.

Must be terrible not having things to moan about, no doubt Paul Fisher will now be the target after being in the job for less than a day.

[svwhat]

I met Paul Fisher when he interviewed me for the Gills FD job when he was in that role back in ~2001. Knows the club inside and out and used to dealing with players as well as looking after PS.

He came across as a Very straight forward guy and clearly doing that job did not prevent him from going on to undertake bigger roles.

Will say we still have to remember who is effectively employing him and paying his salary and it will be interesting to see if his appointment actually saves the club any money if PS taking a much smaller pay check ?

[swansgills888]

Scally knew deep down with his tainted track record, he was very unlikely to attract the investment the club needed to move forward. The unreasonable stimpulation of him being in charge for 5 years during any takeover was total fantasy on his part and true sign of a egotistical, self centred and arrogant person.

Since then, those words have haunted the club ever since and verberated to any prospective investors.

Scally says " One thing we will not allow the club to further its journey with anyone who does not possess the appropriate credentials. There have been a number of chancers who have touted credibility. ( Michael Anderson springs to mind lol )

Just his way of saying I got this club in my pocket forever.

Scally..."The fans cannot stand me and if I open my mouth again, the home attendances will keep falling. Making another Chairman's Chat video on utube is my ultimate ambition in a few years. Once things have calmed down about my toxic behaviour."

Scally adds..." Mr Fisher, I still run this circus OK ? , I will never give up this club, because I want to get one over the fans, they will have to take me away in a straitjacket before I move on permanently. I am just taking an extended break to cover my backside with all my excess baggage catching up with me."

The regime is still here, just another pyramid scheme to smokescreen the fans into believing his is leaving for a while. He is using this extended break strategy to exit quietly but also leaving the door ajar for himself to return once we are in National South League.

He is still running the show behind the scenes and putting a new face ahead of himself as a buffer hoodwink us into believing there is an overhaul at the club.

It has not worked !!!

[swansgills888]

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Home Medway Sport Article

Gillingham Football Club chairman Paul Scally to take an extended break as Paul Fisher is appointed co-chairman and chief executive
Read all comments | 51
Luke Cawdell
[e-mail]
21:30, 07 August 2022 | Updated: 07:13, 08 August 2022
| | |

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally is standing aside after 27 years running the club.

Mr Scally, 67, says he is taking an “extended break” from the Gills and has appointed Medway businessman Paul Fisher as co-chairman and chief executive to handle the day to day running of the club.

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally is taking a break from the club. Picture: KPI
Gillingham chairman Paul Scally is taking a break from the club. Picture: KPI
More: The new man in charge
The Gills announced the news on Sunday night.

Mr Scally said: “I have decided to take an extended break away from football and this great club, a period whereby I can reflect on what my priorities are, a period whereby I can establish how damaged my love for this club and football generally has become, and a period whereby I can rest and focus on my own life, family and other important matters.

"The running of a football club is high profile, 24/7 and 365 days a year, it is a high scrutiny job and I have always accepted an owner will often be in a 'no win' situation, such is the beast, but I have always had the passion and fight needed to do the job, to stand shoulder to shoulder with our support base and to be proud of what we are and have achieved together. I have never shied from making those tough decisions, always in my mind in the best interests of the club first and foremost.


"There is no question that right now, I am physically and mentally exhausted from the efforts, stress, strain and worries of the past couple of years, coupled with the personal abuse effects, and need a break to recharge my batteries.

Paul Scally pictured in 1995 after taking charge at Priestfield Stadium
Paul Scally pictured in 1995 after taking charge at Priestfield Stadium
"Myself and Paul fully intend to continue exploring options regarding the long-term future of the club, and indeed we are currently considering the possibilities of forming a strong and credible board of directors capable of continuing the journey, should external investment or new ownership not be an option.

"One thing we will not do is allow the club to further its journey with anyone who does not possess the appropriate credentials, nor have the best interests of the club at heart, indeed over the past couple of years there have been a number of ‘chancers’ who have touted credibility, but whom in fact have been everything but suitable to take on a club of this magnitude. Our supporters would expect no less from me after all these years.

"I have every confidence in the work Neil (Harris, the manager) and his team are doing with the rebuilding process, not easy to recruit the right individuals and build a new team in such a short space of time but the footballing side is in good hands and it was nice to get our first win of the season yesterday with such a solid performance, sadly I was not in the stadium to witness it, albeit I watched from afar.

"Relegation was painful for all of us that care about this club, I have taken it very badly and with personal responsibility, but thankfully the spirit within the club is high and positive, and I know everyone will work as hard as possible in trying to get the team initially back into League 1, and then into the Championship at some stage thereafter."

Paul Scally celebrates promotion in the play-off final at Wembley with manager Peter Taylor
Paul Scally celebrates promotion in the play-off final at Wembley with manager Peter Taylor
Mr Scally remains the majority shareholder. He has faced criticism from fans which have been heightened in recent years as the club have struggled to be competitive. Last season, they were relegated from League 1.


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It's a long time since the glory years of Championship football having enjoyed plenty of early success after he first took charge in 1995.

The chairman has for many years looked for investment but no major backer has been found. Moving from Priestfield Stadium had also been a major ambition of Mr Scally but despite several locations being targeted, nothing ever got off the ground, including the Mill Hill area just a stone's throw from their current location.

Prior to the appointment of his last manager, Steve Evans, he threatened to quit. He admits that he may be ready to walk away completely in the coming months.

Another win at Wembley as Gills claim play-off success in 2009 Picture: Matthew Walker
Another win at Wembley as Gills claim play-off success in 2009 Picture: Matthew Walker
His statement added: "This is not quite a farewell from me, albeit that may well be the ultimate conclusion of the next few months, I do hope there is still a flame deep down, one that can re-ignite with the help of those closest to me, and with the help of others externally, but time will be the greatest judge of that, certainly if it is the end it’s fair to say it was never the way I expected to see the final curtain.

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"In the meantime I would urge each and everyone of you to unite behind Neil, Paul, the players and staff, hold out the hand of compassion to those that have damaged the club in the past, if they ever were genuine fans maybe they deserve a second chance, focus on all that has been good within the club over the years, remember all the good times had, and indeed think about all the good times to be had, and continue the journey we all know is possible. This club is bigger than any of us, it has a tradition and great history, and it deserves the chance to go again.

"I will be doing whatever I am capable of behind the scenes to support where and if needed, I will do my work quietly and privately and hopefully we can all see the benefits of our hard work in the days, months and years ahead."

He concluded: "Thank you all for the years of trust, support and happiness."

Words of a man against those who dislike him and back door way of leaving the door ajar until he wants to come back if it suits him.

Deluded person by nature.

[mancunianinmedway]

Swans has been at the turps again I see.

Such a sad state of affairs that even after Scally has essentially been bullied into stepping back for a while that you still can’t stop your deranged vitriolic posts.

[swansgills888]

The truth dictates matters and naturally his situation is untenable.

[missinglinc]

I would think, if you look at it objectively, this is the best scenario there is at the moment. Investors aren't falling over themselves to acquire lower league clubs and 'an investor' is not enough.It also has to be someone who loves the club. Otherwise, as the term investor implies, they will looking to get a decent return on their investment, and as we have seen too often, this is often catastrophic for the club.
So, lets see where this takes us, but be careful what else you wish for

[lenny38]

Aug 8, 2022 14:53:34 GMT 1 missinglinc said:

I would think, if you look at it objectively, this is the best scenario there is at the moment. Investors aren't falling over themselves to acquire lower league clubs and 'an investor' is not enough.It also has to be someone who loves the club. Otherwise, as the term investor implies, they will looking to get a decent return on their investment, and as we have seen too often, this is often catastrophic for the club.
So, lets see where this takes us, but be careful what else you wish for

I concur with this. I think ‘investor’ is unlikely at Div 2 level but at least having someone running the club that has some interest in developing it would be a start. Scally lost interest a long time ago. He’s still majority shareholder mind so if he is really going to let go, we will see.

[summerwell]

I'm not convinced that this will make a huge difference at the club,. Firstly, Scally is not going anywhere - in fact one interpretation could be that he will simply do less for the same out-take. As for him being 'bullied out' I don't think fans voicing their legitimate concerns is bullying , so that leaves the alleged 'abusers' at fault. this has always struck me as being somewhat over-egged by Scally, particularly in the context of a football ground, where officials and players are subject to far worse treatment every day of their working lives. I don't defend it, I think it's deplorable, but fans claiming to be upset and outraged by it ? I don't think anyone who regularly attends football matches is that sensitive.

Also, Mr S doesn't seem the type to be bullied, if anything I'd say his track record suggests he is more likely to be the instigator rather than the receiver.

The new guy is not taking over the Chairmanship he is sharing it, nor is there any suggestion that he is investing in GFC, so what we're seeing is a change in management, not in control. I don't expect to see any significant shift in approach to the budget, in terms of investment or in the prioritisation of the footballing side of the business. It may well be that Scally has decided to concentrate on the other areas of his business where, no doubt , his teaching staff don't shout "Scally out" when he enters the school.

I 'm reserving judgement but my first reaction is 'so what ? '

[donut]

Exactly.