GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally has stood by the club’s decision to increase the price of season tickets by around 10 per cent, despite the club being deep in relegation trouble.

Gills lie third from bottom of the Championship, two points from potential safety but Mr Scally has urged supporters to buy season tickets to help the club bring in vital income.

But Gillingham Independent Supporters’ Club chairman Mike Keskeys says he is "flabbergasted" by the new prices and claims fans will not pay extra to watch League 1 football if Gills are relegated.

Last season, the top-priced season ticket for an adult was £470 in the KM Medway Stand in Block C upper tier. That was the price if bought in May or after.

The same ticket next season will cost £517 but fans who want to buy early can get it for £429 this month.

The most expensive single matchday ticket has also gone up 10 per cent from £30 to £33 for a category AAA match. The cheapest season ticket will be in the uncovered Brian Moore Stand.

Last season, a season ticket bought after May would have cost £290 but the same ticket next season will cost £305.

The club have also linked up with Thomas Cook and fans who book their holidays with the travel firm will receive a season ticket voucher worth five per cent of the value of their trip.

In a statement on the club’s website, Mr Scally said: "Last year we took the radical decision to reduce our season ticket prices for our current season to a similar to, and in most cases cheaper than, our first season in this division.

"The idea was to attract more season ticket holders and increase income. Unfortunately, while our number of season ticket holders increased, our income from season tickets fell which as you’ll appreciate, is a problem.

"To that effect, we are forced to increase season ticket prices for this coming campaign and while it is not what I had hoped would be the position, and it is certainly not a decision we have taken lightly.

"I would urge (you) supporters to understand the dilemma in which we find ourselves and continue with your much-needed support in order we can all achieve our goals in the short term and take the club to a brighter future in the long term.

"We have gone on sale now as February income is essential to our cash flows, so please buy your tickets now and help us over the next hurdle."

But GISC chairman Mr Keskeys says Mr Scally should have waited until the end of the season when the club’s position would have been clear before announcing season ticket prices.

He said: "I’m flabbergasted. I can understand Paul Scally’s reasons for what he is doing because we are losing a lot of money but a lot of people aren’t going to buy season tickets.

"People aren’t going to pay these sort of prices to watch what is in effect third division football if we go down. Not a chance.

"It’s going to turn a lot of people off especially when they can go up to Charlton and pay £25 to watch Premiership football and pay £5 for their coach travel. People like me will pay £29 for a AAA game but the floating punters won’t.

"And what’s going to be a AAA fixture if we go down - Doncaster? He should have waited until the end of the season to see what division we were going to be in.

"If we go down, I can see the crowds going down to 5-6,000 at these prices. It may not be popular but it’s our job to tell it like it is."

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