FORMER Gills independent Supporters Club chairman Alan Liptrott staged a one-man protest outside the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday during Gillingham's game with Wimbledon.

Mr Liptrott travelled up to Milton Keynes but refused to enter the stadium in protest at the decision to move Wimbledon from the their London roots.

He said: “I stuck by my principles. I said I wouldn’t go into Selhust Park and I said I wouldn’t go into the National Hockey Stadium. Now I look forward to going up to Stoke in two weeks’ time.

Mr Liptrop, who is banned from Priestfield Stadium following a dispute with Gillingham chairman Paul Scally, stressed: "Obviously it was sad to miss an away game with the position I’m in regarding home games.

"But I just feel so strongly about the franchising of football and what’s happened at Milton Keynes is an absolute tragedy. It really shouldn't have happened.

“Hopefully we can stay up and we won't have to go to Milton Keynes every again.”