GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally has finally backed down in the row about the colour of Gillingham’s new home kit.

In a remarkable turnaround, the side will now be playing their home games in the blue and black hoops initially earmarked as the forthcoming season’s away kit.

Mr Scally announced last month that he had decided Gillingham would be playing in white at Priestfield, starting with the visit of Derby County on August 16. Discontent quickly spread and there was a massive backlash from fans who were furious at the break from tradition.

In an attempt to placate their faithful followers the club gave fans the chance to vote with their wallets by pre-ordering replica shirts from the Gills Megastore.

In the head-to-head race, the blue and black shirt proved to be more popular than Mr Scally’s personal favourite, the white one, which has been relegated to the new first choice away strip. The amber shirt and shorts, which are also unpopular, remain as the alternative change kit.

The support for the blue and black shirt was so strong that the decision to install it as the home kit for the coming campaign came a day early.

On the club’s official website, Mr Scally said: “I realise some of the supporters became very agitated with our original decision, and I respect their right to let me know they were unhappy.”

Many fans actively opposed the white kit from day one and showed their displeasure via a 300-plus online petition, in e-mails to the club and sponsors SeaFrance plus polling an overwhelming anti-white vote on the GillsConnect website.

Local ITV network channel Meridian also ran a telephone survey last week to gauge fans’ opinions and 74 per cent called to register their support for the blue and black shirts.