Paul Scally chats with new Gillingham vice-chairman Michael Anderson

Paul Scally believes vice-chairman Michael Anderson will be a valuable addition to the club’s hierarchy in what the Gillingham chairman described as treacherous times for football clubs.

Mr Anderson has been a director at the club for some time but was recently handed the vice-chairmanship.

"He has been a tremendous help in many areas of the business, sharing my views and ambitions for the future, and offering much support in terms of time and marketing initiatives," said Mr Scally, in his programme notes.

"I have no doubt that in the fullness of time, his presence will be invaluable as we seek to steer the business through some of the most treacherous trading circumstances we have witnessed in modern times.

"Indeed, football as an industry is experiencing great difficulties, although I’m still trying to get my head round quite how a club on the South Coast, earning £50-60 million or more a year can go into administration owing reportedly £80m of debt to creditors.

"That takes some doing but it does rather highlight the somewhat fragile state of affairs within our game and must be a worry but also must serve as a warning to us all as we seek to improve our lot and push for greater glory. It serves as a rather pointless exercise to charge up the ladder, only to fall at the top and suffer serious damage."