THE Gills Supporters' Club will in future be known as the Gills Independent Supporters' Club. The name change, which takes effect immediately, was agreed by the management committee.

"We believe the name change will remove one of the obstacles in getting the ban lifted on Alan Liptrott," said supporters' club secretary Mark Agate.

"A letter containing the name change has been sent to the Gillingham chairman Paul Scally. We still await written proof of the two other issues which lead to the ban concerning the website and allegations of misrepresentation."

The committee are adamant they will not break the Data Protection Act by handing over the names and addresses of it members, which Mr Scally has requested.

"These remain within the domain of the Membership Secretary and are only available to committee members in a controlled fashion," Mr Agate stressed.

Membership is already approaching 500 this season. Following the decision by Mr Liptrott to resign as chairman of the supporters' cSlub, it has been decided not to fill the role until the ban on him is lifted. Mike Keskeys will remain as acting-chairman.