Gills boss Scally defends coach offer
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Action from the Gills
match against Accrington
by Jenni Horn
Gills chairman Paul Scally has
defended the club’s decision to offer cheap coach travel instead of
giving fans their money back as promised.
Boss Andy Hessenthaler pledged to pay back hundreds of dedicated
supporters who travelled to Accrington last month, when Gills
lost 4-3.
After 10 days of waiting to find out
how they could get their money reimbursed, fans were told on
Wednesday that instead of a refund they would in fact be offered
cheap coach travel Plymouth on March 3.
Since the announcement was
made, the club has ammended the offer to a £20 voucher
towards coach travel to any away league game this season.
The offer sparked an angry
reaction from some fans who branded it as worthless and "a
joke".
Chairman Paul
Scally has defended Hess, who he said made the offer in a moment of
high emotion.
He added: "It was moments after he had
come out of the dressing room. He said something in the spirit of
the moment when he was very disappointed with the players’
performance in the first half of the game. People have to take that
into account.
"It was an offer from the heart, a
genuine gesture. He didn’t sit down and plan what he was going to
do.
"It has to be taken in the manner it
was intended. If people don’t want to do that then they are not
true supporters."
"It was an admirable gesture from him
and the players. I’m disappointed that there are some that have
turned it into something other than the way it was intended."
Mr Scally said the club has already
had around 400 calls from people claiming they were at the match,
when in fact there were only 261 fans at the game.
He said:
"When we do offers like this there are people who make mischief and
try to benefit from it. Unfortunately, that’s just a fact of life
and a sign of the time perhaps.
"I’ve suggested to Hessy never to make
an offer like this again, because clearly it’s been misinterpreted
and mishandled. I’ve said to him it just isn’t worth the effort. It
won’t ever happen again."
Hess also spoke about the offer this
morning. He said: "We can’t keep everyone happy but I’ve done it
with good intent after the game because I felt for the fans, that’s
how it is and we move on now as far as I’m concerned."
To receive their voucher, supporters
must visit the club’s ticket office by Wednesday, February 29, with
a match or coach ticket, a train ticket or a receipt from the
motorway services.
Thursday, February 09 2012
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