GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally has followed up his decision to cancel the team's pre-season trip to Tobago by calling a halt on two major projects at Priestfield.

In a further response to the prospect of losing millions from the collapse of ITV Digital, Mr Scally has postponed the relaying of the Priestfield pitch for which he had budgeted £300,000. Also on hold is work on the club's conference facilities, which had been running at £15,000 a week.

With the television deal accounting for £2.7 million of Gillingham's annual turnover of £7 million, further swingeing cuts could follow as Mr Scally plans a survival strategy.

He confirmed to the Financial Times: “I have cancelled the pre-season trip to Tobago. I have put on hold the relaying of the pitch, for which £300,000 had been budgeted and work has stopped on the club's conferencing facilities which were costing £15,000 a week.”

More than half of the overall £10 million cost in redeveloping Priestfield has been borrowed from the Bank of Scotland. The £2 million cheque the club were expecting on September 1, courtesy of the ITV Digital deal, would have been used to reduce the debt.

Mr Scally added: “The bank phone me on a regular basis. They have been superb but what can I say to them other than somehow I will repay you but I don't at this time know how?”

A personal letter from Mr Scally, appealing for financial support, was given to all fans at Easter Monday’s home game at Crewe. The priority is for one or two investors with the financial muscle capable of ploughing £1 million each into the club without making unrealistic demands.

Mr Scally, who has a 75 per cent shareholding, says he would not object to that figure being reduced to 50 per cent if it were for the good of the club, although he does not intend selling shares himself.

Asked if there was a danger of Gillingham going into administration, he replied: “I hope not. Right now my job is to find solutions.”

Meanwhile, the Gills Independent Supporters' Club, whom Mr Scally refuses to recognise, have reiterated their offer of financial support.

Treasurer David Garth said: “If we could help groundsman Billy Wood with equipment, seeds or anything that would benefit the pitch then we would do everything we could to find the money.”