Gillingham chairman Paul Scally believes the club are in a race against time to join football’s elite.

Promotion may be a long shot for the Gills this season but Mr Scally will be hoping it comes sooner rather than later as he fears for the future of the lower divisions.

He said: “With the income that is currently available in the Championship, it will allow us the springboard to really develop in other areas. My short-term aim is to try and get this club back into the Championship.

“Long term, I don’t think there is a lot of future for League 1 and League 2 clubs in the current structure of football. There is a lot of pressure on the Football League and the Championship seems to be getting more closer to the Premiership, as far as relationships are concerned.

“I do fear for the finances in League 1 and 2 because all the money seems to be getting ploughed into the Championship now.”

Championship clubs who aren’t receiving lucrative parachute payments from the Premier League get £2.3million a season. Solidarity payment for League 1 clubs is £360,000.

Mr Scally said: “The Yeovil chairman said that the one season in the Championship actually set them up for the next five years. That is how important income is now to League 1 and Championship clubs.

"The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. You have to join it if you want to be a part of it.”

Read the full story in Friday's Medway Messenger.