THE name on Gillingham FC's shirts next season could be revealed in the next few days.

SeaFrance, the present sponsor, is holding talks with chairman Paul Scally to thrash out a new deal.

The company admits the deal could “go either way” but insists that the looming threat of relegation will not influence its decision.

The cross-Channel operator has sponsored the Gillingham shirts for the past three years, injecting more than £200,000 into the club.

However, the relationship with the Gills has not always been good. Last year, it considered pulling out in a row over the colours chosen by the club for its white away strip.

Some fans blamed the company for dictating the decision, an allegation always denied by the company.

After a meeting with Mr Scally, SeaFrance, bruised by hate email from a few fans, decided to carry on, but only on certain conditions.

A spokeswoman for SeaFrance said the company had been pleased with the deal. "We’ve had three good years with them and we are therefore looking to extend it,” she stressed. “However, we also need to come to some conclusion on what we pay and what we want to get from it.”

She added that it was far from a done deal. “It could go either way. If both parties don’t get what they want, then obviously we would separate.”