GILLINGHAM FC chairman Paul Scally and Medway Council's chief executive Judith Armitt say they have had a "useful and positive" meeting which included dicussions about the club's plans for a new stadium.

Also on the agenda was the controversy which followed the disclosure that a council blunder had allowed the Gills to pay a token sum to use the £1 million Beechings Cross soccer complex in Gillingham.

At a meeting last month, Mr Scally had been told by senior council officer Brian McCutcheon to "show the colour of his money" or forget building a new football stadium at Temple Marshes, Strood.

Mr Scally described on the club's website the outcome of his meeting with Mrs Armitt. He said: "There are a number of areas of mutual interest for us and the council and it is always preferable to discuss them face to face."

The website message says the pair discussed the possible relocation of the club to Temple Marshes and the use of Beechings Cross as the clubs training ground.

Mr Scally said it was not appropriate to divulge the specific outcome of their discussions but added that he was delighted with the way they went.

Mrs Armitt was given a tour of the Priestfield Stadium and was said to be impressed with the recent developments, particularly the conference and banqueting facilities.

The Gills website points out that the council has already used some rooms for meetings and presentations and will be booking these and other facilities in the future.

A Medway Council spokesman said: "Judith Armitt agreed that the meeting had been positive and useful. She said Gillingham Football Club was greatly valued by the community in Medway and hopes it will go from strength to strength.

"She, too, felt it inappropriate at this stage to give any specific details about the discussions."