The company providing Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium with everything from the pies to silver service at weddings has pulled out of its contract with the club.

The US catering firm Centerplate announced it would cease operations at the stadium "with immediate effect."

Boss Adrian Dishington said: “Centerplate values highly its partnerships with all its clients. Our efforts over the last year to discuss terms with the management of Gillingham FC, to craft a sustainable future partnership have proven unsuccessful.

"The existing terms of the contract was signed prior to Centerplate’s acquisition of the Lindley Group in 2013, and - despite our every effort - the lack of open dialogue with the Club’s management, has resulted in a situation in which the quality of service for the club’s supporters and guests and the level of investment required cannot be sustained.”

The move raises a question mark not only over match day catering, but also over future bookings at the stadium, which caters for weddings, conferences and other large events.

In a statement, Gillingham Football Club said: "We have asked Centerplate to explain its decision, but it has declined to do so.

"This now leaves the Club, and more importantly the customers that have contracted with Centerplate to use facilities at Priestfield Stadium, in a difficult and precarious position" - Gillingham Football Club

"This now leaves the club, and more importantly the customers that have contracted with Centerplate to use facilities at Priestfield Stadium, in a difficult and precarious position, given the club has no ability, in terms of resources or experience, to run a catering operation, hence why the club entered into a long-term agreement with Centerplate in the first place."

Centerplate entered into a long-term contract with Gillingham in 2011 to run all food and beverage operations at Priestfield Stadium.

The contract expires in May 2021.

Gills bosses have branded the early withdrawal "disgraceful", and demanded Centerplate, which also provides services to Kent County Cricket Club, explains itself.

Two weeks ago in a match programme Gillingham outlined growing problems with Centerplate, which reportedly told the club at the end of January that it intended to pull out of the contract.

Negotiations with the firm to stay until the end of the season appear to have broken down, and Gillingham said Centerplate now owes the club "a significant amount of money" which was "impacting general trading."

A recent statement on the club's website said all outstanding money had been paid, but it was still pursuing Centerplate for compensation.

However, for hungry fans the future is uncertain.

The club says it has so far been unable to find a firm able to take over the contract, which means there may be no catering services available to supporters until the situation is resolved.

The wrangle has now been passed to the club's lawyers.