Gills seal KM sponsorship deal

Gills chairman Paul Scally will seal the deal in front of the newly-named stand before Gillingham's televised clash with Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon.

Talking to the Medway Messenger, Scally said, 'We are delighted that the Kent Messenger Group is now on board. We are pleased that we have established a superb new working relationship with the group and as a result, have concluded this massive deal with them.

'The agreement, which gives the KM naming rights to the Medway Stand, is without doubt the largest sponsorship package this club has ever secured.

'The three-year arrangement offers KMG huge benefits with regard to exposure whilst at the same time giving the football club coverage in all the KMG titles throughout the county in the form of a half-page advert for 42 weeks of the year.

Scally: delighted

'When you consider the KM newspapers have a weekly readership of more than one million people, this will give us invaluable marketing opportunities which will help us establish our conference, banqueting and wedding facilities to a wide geographical area, as well as helping us to promote match ticket sales.

'The deal also includes commercial spots on all KM-fm radio stations throughout the county, with KM-fm becoming our official commercial radio station in Kent.'

The KM Group's editorial director, Simon Irwin, is equally delighted with the deal.

'This deal makes great sense for both the club and the KM Group. We have a lot in common, in particular our determination to succeed.

KM Group: 'determined to succeed'

'Both organisations have traditions in Kent going back more than a century. Gillingham is the county's leading football club and the KM is the leading newspaper group, reaching into almost every home in the county.

'I am delighted that we are to become more closely involved, and look forward to a long and happy relationship.'

The deal effectively closes the door on the poor relations between the two parties - and gives Gillingham FC the local media support it desperately needs.

With the area's largest local media group fully behind the club, perhaps now is the time when the Gills start to take more advantage of the huge catchment area of Kent, and the Medway Towns in particular.