Paul Scally may have upset a few people over the years but it’s all been for the good of the club, he insists.

Twenty years on from formally taking over at Priestfield and his enthusiasm for the club hasn’t wavered.

Neither has his tough stance on negativity.

One of his first tasks when taking the reins from Tony and Val Smith back in 1995, after a tense and protracted takeover, was to rid the club of those who weren’t up for modernisation.

Sacking 25 tea ladies was just the start.

Mr Scally said: "We persevered with people, we persevered with the tea ladies for a few weeks but they weren’t for changing. Looking back, that is sad but you move on.

"We don’t change for change’s sake but if we believe we should change, we will and will continue to challenge the way we do things.

"Negativity is destructive. It is destructive to individuals and businesses. Negative energy doesn’t take you anywhere. I have said all along that if you are not with us, or wanting to be part of what we are trying to achieve, then by all means go. That is not an issue."

Mr Scally, a former milkman who made big profits from selling photocopiers, was officially installed as chairman of Gillingham FC on June 29, 1995.

It has certainly been an eventful ride.

"It’s been a real soap for 20 years and I am pleased to say we are still going," said the 59-year-old.

"We are in better shape than we were 20 years ago and it is an exciting time we are in now going forward."

Read the first of our three-part interview with Paul Scally, in full, in Friday's Medway Messenger.