Gillingham chairman Paul Scally is loving the football under boss Steve Lovell.

Mr Scally handed Lovell the job until the end of the season after an impressive stint as caretaker boss.

Lovell got the team winning points on the field while the chairman was preoccupied with his battle against former caterers Centerplate UK off it, one which has resulted in a big payout for Gillingham. No wonder Mr Scally is feeling happy.

“I have to take my hat off to Steve Lovell and his team who have done a remarkable job,” said Mr Scally.

“It is fair to say I wasn’t considering him as a potential new manager but he has proved me wrong and I am pleased he has. I didn’t expect it. I have loved every minute of it.

“The team are galvanised, they love their football that they are playing at the moment. They are very together and there is a real nice feel about the club now, such that there probably hasn’t been for the last 12 months.”

Gillingham’s cash windfall from their High Court victory will be used in all areas of the business.

The club were awarded close to £1.4m from Centerplate, who must also pay Gills’ legal fees, in excess of £500,000. Lovell could get a little extra in his playing budget but Mr Scally insists the money is going to benefit the club as a whole.

Asked where the funds are going, he said: “It goes into the business, like all other funds.

“I was particularly troubled by comments I heard by some supporters, I use that word loosely, after the Portsmouth game, which were aimed at me directly and were very hurtful.

“I am not sure what some people believe I do at the business but I certainly don’t take money out of the club. Every penny that we receive gets put into the club, into the pot and out of that we pay the salaries, the overheads, the refurbishments and players. (We put) as much money as we can into the player budget, which is why we do all the off-field activities that we do.”

Lovell has already been eyeing up new recruits for when the transfer window opens in January and when asked if there would be money for new players, the chairman said: “Of course, but we also have to finish The Factory off, finish the banqueting hall off, refurbish some of the kitchen equipment.

“I know some people won’t want to hear that from a fan perspective but without doing those things we can’t generate the income which leads to more profit which then leads to a bigger budget."