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What takeover means for bottom club Gillingham as they hope to avoid relegation to non league?

What a takeover means for bottom club Gillingham as they hope to avoid relegation to non league? We take a look following the big news.

American businessman Brad Galinson completed the takeover of Gillingham by purchasing a majority stake, much to the delight of fans. For a number months, the Florida-based property magnate was linked to the League Two side.

Paul Scally has owned the Gills since 1995. He will retain a minority stake in the club that played in the Championship between 2000 and 2005.

Scally stated in August that he was taking a break from the day to-day running the club because of abuse from fans.

Scally stated that he had been in discussions with interested parties about investing in the club for over a year.

Neil Harris’ team has struggled to score goals on the field. They have won only two of their 20 league matches so far and scored just six goals.

Scally was Gillingham’s owner for 27 years. They won four promotions, made three play-off finals and spent five seasons at the Championship starting in 2000.

The Gills were removed from League One on the last day of the previous season.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Gillingham Football Club, after a long, collaborative due diligence process, can today confirm that Brad Galinson has acquired a majority shareholding in GFC Holdings and Gillingham Football Club Ltd.

As a result, Brad Galinson will become the majority shareholder, with Paul Scally retaining a minority shareholding.

Brad Galinson said: โ€œMyself and my family are absolutely delighted to have completed the acquisition of Gillingham Football Club. It is a club with a rich heritage and a passionate, loyal fan base. Paul Scally has done an excellent job over the last 27 years and we hope with our involvement the club will move forward. A bright future with, hopefully, more goals and a lucrative transfer window are on the horizon.โ€

Paul Scally added: โ€œThis is a monumental, exciting and historical time in our clubโ€™s long history. Brad and his family will be arriving into the UK in early January and Iโ€™m sure will be looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible. He has become not only a partner but I have grown to consider him a friend.โ€

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Brad Galinson said, as seen in the video above: โ€œOn the pitch we need to score more goals, we need to move up the table and we need to have an aggressive and successful January transfer window, your team is ready to do this and things are already happening behind the scenes – the fans deserve better.โ€

His wife, Shannon, adds: โ€œWe canโ€™t wait to be in the building in January to roll up our sleeve and get to work.โ€

Speaking prior to the takeover being confirmed, Harris said, as per KentOnline: โ€œWhat I do know is that we need some help as a group, some of the boys in the changing room need more help around them and I maybe need a few different and more options in certain positions because we sit around mid-table on goals conceded and miles bottom in the history of English football on goals scored.โ€

Asked if he had an idea of what he wanted to do, he said: โ€œI know exactly what I want to change.โ€

What takeover means for bottom club Gillingham as they hope to avoid relegation to non league?

FAN REACTION:

@thomasmarkham_: Americans were always the top of my list, love em

@terry132875328: Taking over a non league team great start need big big changes at Gillingham and I think to late this season already great local club for me hope they survive and rebuild the fans deserve it after scally era

@danieljch: What a great message from @BradGalinson Welcome to our incredible club both of you and I look forward to meeting you and watching our club move up the table! UTG ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ’™

@danieljch: What a great message from @BradGalinson Welcome to our incredible club both of you and I look forward to meeting you and watching our club move up the table! UTG ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ’™

@GillsFan23: UP THE GILLS ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

@al13gills: Thank you both so much. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Up the gills

@ElmoGills: Welcome Brad. Onwards and upwards from here. 2023 suddenly looks a lot brighter for all Gills fans. Enjoy your Christmas coz you have certainly started mine brilliantly!

@phil_neaves: Wow just wow utterly speechless what a day to be a gills fan ao happy right now. Merry Christmas to all Gillingham Fans out there. Wow!!+

@MorThnJustASong: OMG – this has actually happened to our club???! Iโ€™m not cryingโ€ฆ youโ€™re crying!! ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿค๐Ÿ’™ Thank you for believing and investing in us @BradGalinson and Shannon

@NicholasCoote1: Thank you Brad & Shannon for brightening up Christmas for us long suffering Gills fans. The video message is a lovely touch, great way to early engage with supporters.

@alexgress: i have a boner

@luckhurst45: Thank you so very much Brad & Shannon Galinson for helping Gillingham FC and @Checkfish for helping make this happen. Iโ€™m totally shocked and lost for words other than merry bloody Christmas and up the Gills!!!! ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™

@TheGame180: Best Christmas present ever welcome Brad and Shannon I hope your time here is as successful as it is enjoyable, over to us gills fans now we really got to get behind the boys like never before and help get up that table

@Truebluejock: โ€œThe fans deserve betterโ€. Those four words have sold me. Welcome aboard Brad & Shannon, thanks and Merry Christmas.

@jonny153x: It’s absolutely crazy that as a 36 year old, I have only ever known a Scally run club. Like, that is insane.. especially these days. The guy has given us so much, and has always cared imo. First impressions are that he has really taken the time to find the perfect buyers.. utg ๐Ÿ’™

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