Gillingham FC Forum

Gills chairman Paul Scally is hoping to meet some of worst critics head on.

The first of what he described as “open house” meetings took place on Sunday.

Mr Scally wants to meet supporters, face to face in his office, to answer any questions they have.

He said: The meetings are for those supporters that may have matters they wish to discuss, issues they don’t understand, questions they’d like answered.

“For those that have spent hours posting on forums and in the media over the last months, sometimes speculating, (often bizarrely and unfairly) on a variety of matters.”

Fans who missed the chance to go to Priestfield have other opportunities, with Mr Scally’s office door open on Tuesday 10am-noon and 6pm-8pm and on Sunday, December 29 (11.30am-1pm).

Mr Scally said: “I will be alone, there will be no requirement for anyone to register or make an appointment, just turn up.

“I don’t need your names, neither do I care when or where you’ve posted, if at all. I would just like those that have an interest in getting answers, those that have something to say, to turn up and have your say and ask your questions.

“Maybe after that the malicious posters will realise how ridiculous many of their postings have been and will act more responsibly.

“I would like to say it’s a case of show up or shut up but I realise life’s not quite that simple.”

Anyone going?

Firstly I understand why people don't like Mr Scally and I don't think he is particular bothered by that, but some of the comments have been atrocious and slanderous would be too weak a word to use. I have noticed just 5 or 6 names who have become more and more vociferous in there condemnation of the chairman to the point where the various Facebook pages and forums they use have become zones of hatred of anyone who doesn't share their views.

One thing this board has always prided itself on is that varying opinions can be just that, a well described opinion without anyone forcing views on anyone else but these people totally took over the sites. When they got more and more control so their views got more and more extreme, virtually claiming Scally was responsible for crime after crime and even claimed he was responsible for the missed remembrance Sunday silence "from the comfort of the board-room". Another daft conversation involved the sale of the club claiming Scally was blocking anyone from buying it. When I stated that if someone did want to buy the club and was being prevented from doing so, I would make it clear what was happening and it wouldn't be long before Scally left. As there has been no noise from anyone it is obvious there is only one person willing to own the club and he already does. This view wasn't one that was listened to by some! It was no wonder he took offence and the club mailed them to invite them to the meetings. A few of these people have gone and have since posted on the various forums that they may have been wrong about what they thought!!! So the man they despise could explain a point of view but other forum users cannot.

This all just helps to cause more unrest for them team, they WILL know the crowd (whatever the minority) are unhappy and that will have an impact. These trolls seem intent to prove how much they love the side and what they say is for the good of the team yet they are happy to hinder it with their abuse. Let's hope this has an effect on these people and that the various message boards are back to being a discussion and the disruption stops. There are lots of people I don't like but I don't feel the need to make up slanderous statements about them however plausible they might actually be.