Gillingham chairman Paul Scally will discuss his own future at the club when he writes an open letter to fans in the coming days.

Mr Scally says he has been through the “most torrid time” of his life in recent months but hopes his newly appointed manager Neil Harris can deliver on a plan to get the club moving back in the right direction.

There have been vocal critics of Mr Scally from the stands, particularly during last weekend’s 7-2 loss against Oxford United, which ended with caretaker manager Steve Lovell leaving the club after he was also targeted by angry fans.

Lovell has spoken of his disappointment after being abused and Mr Scally offered his apology to a man who has dedicated many years of service to the club on the playing, coaching and management side. He answered the call to help in a caretaker capacity the day after Steve Evans left the club, providing his services just 20 minutes after he was asked.

That abuse will be part of an open letter that Mr Scally has said he will write to fans.

Harris’ appointment has been widely welcomed and the fans were singing his name as the Gills began a new era with a 1-0 win over Crewe.

Speaking before Harris’ first game in charge, Mr Scally said he was keen to address some issues and in an interview broadcast by the club, concluded by saying: “My future is not up for discussion now but I will discuss that in my open letter.”

Reflecting on the days before Harris’ appointment, he said: “From a personal point of view I have probably had the most torrid time I have had in my entire life, it has been painful, difficult and frustrating, but two things had to happen. I had to remove the previous manager and I had to get it right by getting people in that I felt would care about the club and take it on a journey. I feel I have achieved both things

“The cloud that was over the club for three months, prior to the parting of Steve Evans, was lifted when Steve Lovell came in.”

Lovell took charge of four games but it ended after that heavy defeat to Oxford.

On the abuse dished out to Lovell, Mr Scally said: “I understand that losing games in the way we did everyone suffers, anger and frustration are higher and emotions take over but when he called me on the Sunday he was virtually in tears, very upset and distressed. I felt for him and I hope that never happens again.

“Personal abuse is the lowest and something we will need to address. I will address that and a number of matters in an open letter.

“I apologised to Steve. It was unfair and inappropriate that he was abused as he was when he left the pitch.”

In the last few days there has been an upturn in positivity at the club, following Harris’ arrival. The Gills remain in a fight against relegation but Mr Scally hopes the tide can now be turned.

He said: “The management will start the process of a plan that will take over two and a half years to implement but will take us to a better place structurally and from a team and playing point of view.

“We all want the club to be successful. We have had a terrible two years and a terrible three months but that is the past and we can’t change it but we can change the future.”