GILLINGHAM Football Club and the Kent Messenger Group have teamed up in the club's biggest ever sponsorship deal.

The deal will be officially sealed on Sunday by Gillingham chairman Paul Scally and the editorial director of the Kent Messenger Group, Simon Irwin.

They will shake hands in front of what will now become the KM Medway Stand, before the Coca Cola Championship game against Sheffield United.

Welcoming the partnership, Mr Scally said: "We are delighted that the Kent Messenger Group is now on board. We are pleased that we have established a superb new working relationship with the group and as a result, have concluded this massive deal with them.

"The agreement, which gives the KM naming rights to the Medway Stand, is without doubt the largest sponsorship package this club has ever secured.

"The three-year arrangement offers KMG huge benefits with regard to exposure whilst at the same time giving the football club coverage in all the KMG titles throughout the county in the form of a half-page advert for 42 weeks of the year.

"When you consider the KM newspapers have a weekly readership of more than one million people, this will give us invaluable marketing opportunities which will help us establish our conference, banqueting and wedding facilities to a wide geographical area, as well as helping us to promote match ticket sales.

"The deal also includes commercial spots on all KM-fm radio stations throughout the county, with KM-fm becoming our official commercial radio station in Kent."

Mr Irwin said: "This deal makes great sense for both the club and the KM Group. We have a lot in common, in particular our determination to succeed.

"Both organisations have traditions in Kent going back more than a century. Gillingham is the county's leading football club and the KM is the leading newspaper group, reaching into almost every home in the county.

"I am delighted that we are to become more closely involved, and look forward to a long and happy relationship."

The KM Medway Stand replaced the old main stand which was demolished in 1999. In addition to excellent facilities for fans, it houses players' areas, the club's administrative offices, changing areas, physio rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a canteen, the media centre, extenstive conference facilities and more.

It also has 20 hospitality boxes, each of which can accommodate 10 people, and has access to an outside terrace.