Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has likened the current atmosphere in and around Priestfield to the club’s Championship days.

The Gills took plenty of scalps during their time in the second tier and ME7 was an unpopular destination for their league rivals.

A draw against Portsmouth on New Year’s Day ended a run of seven straight wins but a late equaliser once again left fans cheering their side off.

Mr Scally, ahead of the Pompey game, wrote: “The support from the stands very much reminds me what it was like during our days in the Championship; it’s been positive, loud and above all, intimidating for our opponents.

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“We said before the season started that we need to come together, pull in the same direction and, quite simply, be a team.

“I am delighted to say that our hard work is coming to fruition, but this needs to continue and I have no doubt that it will.”

Mr Scally thanked many of the club’s staff in his notes ahead of the new year, with the fans among them.

He threatened to quit in the summer but his decision to appoint Steve Evans appears to be paying off. The Gills head into an FA Cup clash with West Ham sitting just three points off the play-off places.

“A football club can not operate without its fans, it’s impossible” said the Gills chairman, in a direct message to those supporters.

Addressing those fans, he continued: “You are the lifeblood of the club and there is not a day that goes past when I don’t value your endless contribution.

“We will have our ups and downs, that’s the game we are in, but I hope we can all agree that the current togetherness of personnel, both on and off the field is having a positive effect on results, and I hope this continues not just for the rest of the season but indefinitely.”

Boss Evans divided opinion upon his appointment but has been lapping up the celebrations from the Rainham End in recent weeks.

“They have been tremendous,” said the Scottish manager.

“I stop for fuel, I go for a beer, I live a normal life like everyone else. I walk around the supermarket and people are following me with their trolleys. I think are they watching how many biscuits I am getting!

“But in all seriousness they have been fantastic and since we got through our initial form and we were trying to find a pattern and a way to play, they have been absolutely brilliant.

“The numbers have been increasing and Sunday (against West Ham) will be a sell out. There will be people turning up scratching to get in.

“The place will be buzzing all day and we’ll have television cameras in town and around the stadium and there will be a load of kids here as well on the last day of their holiday break.

“It will be a fantastic occasion but it only becomes a memorable occasion if we perform.”