Gillingham have finally cashed in on Bradley Dack – but chairman Paul Scally insists finances remain tight.

Dack completed his move to League 1 rivals Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday in a deal that will net the Gills £750,000 plus future add-ons.

Gills are currently fighting a legal battle with former caterers Centerplate UK Ltd after their decision to walk away from the club in March 2015.

While Mr Scally is willing to stretch the budget a little following Dack’s move, he won’t be splashing that cash.

He said: “We have worked hard on the deal. It is a good deal and we are happy.

“Dack has done well for us and we should respect that but he now needs to move on and it is absolutely the right decision footballing-wise and financially.

“There is probably a little more spare for players but the Centerplate case is one we didn’t wish for and it has been put upon us.

“It is a big case, we need to take it to conclusion and once we win that case, then that will give us more funds.

“We lost £800,000 last year (in the accounts) because of the legal case and we have a lot of costs involved in that.

“The money goes into the business to keep it running. Whatever money we have spare, as always, we put towards players.”

Centerplate offered to settle the dispute with the Gills for £950,000 in August last year, which was rejected.

A counter offer from the club of £1,450,000 has not been accepted and a High Court trial date has been set for November 1.

Read the full story in this week's Medway Messenger.