Gillingham Football Club has returned to paying rent for using council-owned facilities after ditching the council as the club's sponsor.

Medway Council, which had a one-year shirt sponsorship deal with the Sky Bet League One outfit during the 2018/19 season, had waived charges as part of the arrangement.

But the authority has confirmed the Gills are now paying a “commercial” rate to use Beechings Cross as a training facility.

Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con) said: “We would be happy to explore future opportunities with Gillingham Football Club.”

Despite Cllr Jarrett’s suggestion in March that he was open to extending the deal, the club instead partnered up with generator hire company MEMS just weeks later.

Speaking after the arrangement drew to a close, he spoke of looking “back on a fantastic year” for both organisations – describing the partnership as “mutually beneficial” and helping to put the Towns “on the map”.

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