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by Alan McGuinness

Gillingham FC could be forced to move out of Medway.

That is the shock warning from chairman Paul Scally, who has written to all 55 of the Towns' councillors, calling on them to reject plans to transform Chatham Docks.

He told the Medway Messenger the club intended to write to all houses in the Towns, calling on the people of Medway to back its campaign.

Mr Scally said: "If it's [the planning application] successful then in its current form almost certainly that will be the end of Gillingham Football Club in Medway."

In the letter, Mr Scally said the site in Pier Road, Gillingham, was currently the only viable option for moving from Priestfield - the club's home since it was founded more than 100 years ago.

Peel Ports' ambitious £650m plans for homes, shops and businesses have been submitted to the council and a decision is due in the near future.

The proposed scheme, dubbed Chatham Waters, includes a hotel with 200 bedrooms, 475 student apartments, up to 950 flats and houses and an Asda superstore.

According to Mr Scally, the only other potential site in the Towns suitable for a stadium is in Mill Hill, close to Yokosuka Way, Gillingham, but this would be a non-starter because of the presence of a supermarket in Peel Ports' plans.

He claimed a supermarket would need to be built in connection with the stadium to make it financially viable, and two superstores within such a short distance of each other would not be workable.

In the letter, Mr Scally wrote that there was "no sustainable future" for the club at the current site in Redfern Avenue.

Plans for the club to move from its current home have been in the pipeline for many years.

Chatham Docks is thought to be among a number of locations that have been considered by the club.

It states: "Given this scenario, the club will be reluctantly forced to relocate to a site outside of Medway where both a willing landowner and enabling function can be achieved.

"These are sadly the realistic facts, and Medway councillors and the public must decide what is most important to them."

Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti said: "I will do my best to get all parties concerned together to find a solution to this problem."

When a planning application for Chatham Waters scheme was submitted at the end of last year, the supermarket was described as "critical" to the project.

At the time of the application, James Whittaker, Peel Ports development director, said: "Given the overwhelming public support we have received, we are hopeful of a positive decision."

He added: "We have already received a lot of interest from occupiers and are keen to commence building the first phase."