THE Gills Independent Supporters’ Club are heading for fresh conflict with Paul Scally over their Player of the Year awards night.

Gillingham’s chairman fined and disciplined winner Paul Smith and runner-up Chris Hope last season for attending the tradition-steeped function.

Now he has issued an instruction forbidding players from attending all other presentations apart from the club’s own.

Gillingham Football Club’s Players’ Player of the Year dinner will be held at Priestfield on Sunday, May 4.

A Supporters’ Player of the Year dinner will be held at the same venue on Monday, May 5 at which fans wishing to make awards may do so.

Undeterred, the GISC distributed voting forms today bearing the words “The Award The Players Want On Their Mantlepiece” to their members.

The GISC trophy is inscribed with the club’s biggest names from first winner Brian Yeo through to Dick Tydeman, Steve Bruce, Terry Cochrane, Tony Cascarino, Gavin Peacock and present player-manager Andy Hessenthaler.

Last year Smith made history by winning the award three times, including back-to-back successes.

Mark Agate, secretary of the GISC, confirmed today that all members would, as usual, receive ballot forms.

“We see no reason why we shouldn’t run our awards as usual,” he said. “Why should we change something we've been doing for 35 years?

“There is absolutely no reason why the football club and GISC should not have separate awards.

“What harm does it do and why can’t the players attend ours as well as the football club’s presentations ?

“I was talking to a group of Ipswich fans on Saturday and they told me that the parent club and the supporters club have their own separate award nights. The Ipswich players are not prevented from going to the fans’ night. Why can't the same happen at Gillingham?”

The GISC will announce their winner after the last home game of the season against Crystal Palace on May 4 at the Franklin Rooms in Gillingham.