by Patrick Gearey

A Kent finance expert says Gillingham’s promotion will provide an ‘enormous’ boost to the club’s finances.

Professor Richard Scase, who is based at the University of Kent at Canterbury and is a Gills fan, believes they are now better placed to weather the recession, which he thinks will hit football clubs hard.

Mark Stimson’s side can expect big crowds to watch games against the likes of Southampton, Charlton, Leeds and Norwich and Professor Scase says that will make a big difference to the club, who have been working to repay considerable debts to Royal Bank of Scotland.

He said: “It is an enormous boost. Even I am thinking about having a season ticket again. I had one a few years ago but I gave it up when Gillingham got relegated to the fourth tier of English league football.

“I think lots of people like me will be doing the same so attendances will go up and they can probably charge more for a ticket.”

But the academic also thinks Gillingham will need to invest to stay in the division next season.

“I think they are going to struggle to stay in League One unless they get in some more players of quality - and that will cost money - but on the other hand Gillingham is now more competitive in attracting those players than it was when it was in League Two.”

He also has a warning for all football clubs that they will not be exempt from the effects of the credit crunch.

“It is going to be a quite tough year for all clubs, including those in the Premier League, as sponsorship is going to come down because companies do not have the spend on advertising that they have had in the past.

“It will be tough for Gillingham but it would be even tougher if they had not been promoted.”