SEAFRANCE is sticking with its sponsorship of Gillingham - but only after club chairman Paul Scally agreed to let fans choose the colour of the home strip.

The cross-Channel operator ended days of uncertainty by confirming that it would honour its six-figure deal in spite of hostile comments by fans over a proposed change of kit from blue to white.

After talks described as “lengthy” between ferry chiefs and club chairman Paul Scally, SeaFrance announced that it would continue to sponsor Gillingham in the coming season, its third year of backing the club.

The company said: “A satisfactory solution has now been found whereby the fans themselves will choose the home kit.”

SeaFrance was falsely linked with the proposed change, leading to a flood of hostile email messages and Internet comments, many urging people not to travel with SeaFrance.

The hate mail incensed the operator which came close to pulling out of the best sponsorship deal in the Gills’ history.

Sales director Bill Laidlaw confirmed that the company would continue to be the club’s main sponsor.

He said: “The ill feeling created by the kit change proposals was incorrectly directed towards SeaFrance and the opinions of some fans were so hostile, we had no choice but to reconsider our position.”

He continued: “It has, however, become extremely clear within the last week that these threats and opinions were those of a very small minority and the support from genuine fans, who chose not to make the same wild assumptions, has been nothing short of overwhelming.”

He added: “At the end of the day a solution has been reached and together with the positive support that SeaFrance has received from many fans, we will maintain our relationship with Gillingham Football Club, and continue to play a role in its success.”