ALL Gillingham supporters will be welcome at arch-rivals Millwall on Boxing Day next season after being excluded from the stringent measures announced by the club to combat hooliganism.

Next season no away supporters will be allowed at Millwall's home games against Wolves, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Stoke, Portsmouth and Leicester.

A further four matches, against Coventry, Derby, Reading and Crystal Palace, will be made all-ticket for away fans with specially arranged kick off times so they finish jus before dusk.

Millwall have also announced that in order to buy a ticket for any of their games next season, supporters will have to be season-ticket holders or members of the official supporters' club.

The measures were announced following discussions with local police, in response to rioting outside the New Den in May after defeat by Birmingham in a promotion play-off.

A Millwall spokesman confirmed: “As there is no history of trouble between Gillingham and Millwall supporters the match has been designated low risk so it will be business as usual.

“That will only change should we receive intelligence reports nearer the game that there could be trouble.”

The news was welcomed by the Gills Independent Supporters' Club. Secretary Mark Agate, who is also secretary of the National Federation of Football Supporters' Club, said: “Even though we're talking about an always fiercely contested local derby I'm not in the least bit surprised that Gills fans are exempt from this ban at Millwall.

“Wherever they go, Gillingham supporters win praise from the local police for their exemplary good behaviour.

“So far as the supporter bans are concerned I'm bound to say that the hooligans would seem to have won.

“Personally, I believe that many decent football fans will be reluctant to go to Millwall.”