Fans feared they may have to bring their own grub to tomorrow’s Gills game after the caterers walked out, but the boss has promised burgers and beers as usual.

American firm Centerplate provided everything from dinners for high-class events to pies on matchdays, but this week they pulled out of their contract with the club with six years still remaining.

This week club chairman Paul Scally has been frantically trying to source staff, stock and equipment to keep everything running smoothly for fans in the stand and those in corporate boxes.

Today he said: "We've got extra people coming in to help who have worked with us in the past and we should now have enough to run a full service.

"I'm fairly confident it will be business as usual."

"We've got extra people coming in to help who have worked with us in the past and we should now have enough to run a full service. I'm fairly confident it will be business as usual" - Chairman Paul Scally

Earlier this week Centerplate packed up and left, taking all their files containing vital details about clients who booked to have their event at Priestfield.

Mr Scally called the company’s actions “disgusting”, while the firm argued it was forced to pull out when communication with the club broke down.

In a statement from Centerplate, a spokeswoman said the firm had not “taken this decision lightly or abruptly”.

She said: “During a meeting in September Centerplate made it clear it was unable to continue operating the contract under the current terms.

"At a crucial meeting on March 5, which Gillingham FC’s chairman failed to attend or make himself available for by phone, Centerplate put forward a proposal.

“Despite repeated attempts to engage with the club and its lawyers Centerplate received no response or counter-offer to this, leaving no alternative other than to withdraw from the contract.”

Mr Scally said all week he had been taking calls from brides-to-be, people holding conferences and parties for christenings who were panicking about whether their events were still going ahead.

He said: “It is an incredibly bizarre situation. I’m having to ask people to tell me when their events are. They are my first priority, they shouldn’t suffer because of this.”

One of those is Keith Jones, who booked a room for a party after his son Olly’s christening in May.

Mr Jones, of Laburnum Avenue, Strood, said: “I emailed Centerplate, who have refunded me, but when I went to Gills nobody seemed to know what was going on. Obviously it was very worrying.”

The electrician has already paid out for the invitations and has family coming down from Shropshire for his five-month-old baby’s special day.

“On Wednesday I was emailed personally by Paul Scally, who said he would honour the booking and be in touch nearer the time. It is a relief. Priestfield is one of the nicest venues in Medway and we picked a church near there specifically.”

Centerplate gives Gillingham FC at least £280,000 per year from its profits, and without it Mr Scally said he has been put in a very difficult position.

He said: “Priestfield Conference and Banqueting is an absolutely fantastic facility. Any operator should have been turning over in excess of £2.1 million. This behaviour, from what is a large international company, is in my opinion disgraceful and disappointing.”