Quote : '' Gillingham Football Club is more important than me.'' ........ I also listened to the whole interview. I totally agree with Mr. Scally (( regarding his 'quote.' ))..... I have mixed feelings about Mr.Scally's administration of the Club - and, probably am a little negative towards his 'regime' at the moment. I also do not think that it is not helping the cause of the protesters when they use foul language towards Mr. Scally. Also, his family should not be the subject of any personal abuse etc. I have praised Scally's business skills - to keep the Club in existence over the last 26 years -- but, sadly, have had to criticise about the many negative episodes, and embarrassment, that he has attracted for GFC because of his 'style.'................ I really do not want to drag up and revisit these occasions. Mr.. Scally seems incapable of understanding the displeasure of fans. He claims their numbers to be very small.... I'm not so sure - perhaps the number of vociferous dissenters are few - but- in my experience, every fan I speak to share the same criticisms......maybe if Mr. Scally communicated with fans - with proper empathy and sympathy -together with actually listening to concerns, he might be able to make his point in a way that is better appreciated by the fans. ... His (recent) lack of communication with the fans - and therefore, his lack of understanding our viewpoint, is the biggest criticism I have of him at the moment.... and it is obvious that many ( or is it just a very few number of), people have the same 'complaint.' On a personal basis, and despite my many 'complaints', I can have an understanding of the ways in which Mr. Scally is changing the administration of the Club - some of which have been because of the effects on procedures brought on by Covid..... I can accept the concept of 'cashless' protocols (( but not its' exclusiveness - to the inconvenience of many fans, and to the financial detriment of the Club. )) ... Just in this issue alone, there should be an 'option' of card or cash - as exists in many other stadiums..... And, of course, cashless impacts on other sales ( or lack of ), by anyone under 18, who cannot get a credit card...... that is, of course, if there is a ticket office or Megastore, or food outlets open & stocked, in which money ( cash or card ), can be spent. Mr. Scally, until now, has failed to appreciate the nonsense that a lack of ticket office on matchdays have caused the fans....... I thank him that he has now rectified that mistake (( even if I personally am buying my extra tickets online. )).... But there have been other issues in the last few months (( most have been subject to comment in this forum )), which have impacted the fans - especially STH, and the particular nonsense that STH have endured ---- a lot, if not all of which, has not been acted upon by Mr. Scally..... and, worse still, he has remained silent for such a long time - despite concerns in various forums and media.................. .............. As I said at the top, I am sure that Mr. Scally could have addressed every concern - as they occur - in such a way that his current 'regime' of the Club would still be in place - but - if he had the skill, he could have been more subtle about the necessary changes -- which then could have allowed fans to be more tolerant of matters of which Mr. Scally has no control..... One point, on which I will (again) comment ... the BUDGET..... I know what he's trying to say - and can have little argument against it - but I will remind people that he has spent exactly £1 of his own money on the Club........ and that he has not produced any evidence to the contrary..... And in the last 26 years, the improvements to the infrastructure has been with money from fans or transfer fees - not Mr. Scally's own money..... and not forgetting the number of years that he lived ( presumably as a tax exile ) in Dubai ( at my - and your expense! )..... and on the subject of BUDGET ... I notice he stressed the point that it is at least the same as last year.............. What about his 'consultancy fees' ?? is + 27.5% the 'same' as last year. Mr. Scally says he can't understand the criticisms and chants against him.... I am not convinced that he has understood the concerns of the fans ( much of which is OFF the pitch. ) - The two sentences go hand-in-hand....For me ( and probably many others ), his lack of communication has caused me ( and probably many others ), to consider that Mr. Scally is arrogant.....He hasn't helped his coat of humility, when he boldly tells us in the interview, that the Club can't be run without him - not even if / when he sells it... and that if he goes, the Club will go into liquidation... So, the one question that wasn't posed : .....does Mr. Scally 'think' he is more important than Gillingham Football Club ?
My personal view... I listened to the whole video, it's not right to abuse him or cause trouble. However, if you want to be approachable, take a look at Darragh MacAnthony he manages to make social media work for him, so why can't our Chairman?... one question which maybe answers the root of all problems. It's clear watching the video, the Chairman struggles in knowing how to cope with social media. I hear all his frustrations - but as I run a platform, I feel he could apply his energy and concerns in a more positive way. Negativity feeds negativity that breeds more negativity. So I'll repeat: He seriously needs to give Darragh MacAnthony a call, on his approach towards social media and how to deal with the positives and negative of platforms. Also forcing through change, say for example, in moving the club shop to alternate means or going cashless is not two way communication, it's telling us what is being done and why, but that's not how social media works. Everyone has a right to reply, so when telling us why, you also need to acknowledge the concerns, even if you don't agree with them and IF you don't know of any concerns, then you haven't been listening. Going on social media is not just about pulling out the bits you like, and not acknowledging the bits you dislike, by that I mean reasonable requests and comments (that you disagree with), not nasty ones. None of this is having a go at the Chairman, it's all said with respect and concerns for his well-being too.
A lot of things still don't add up. Apparently we have 16th highest budget in league. According to Evans lowest. We have 24ro players.. He does not understand why people want him to go.