Home   Kent   News   Article

Ex-Gills player Mark McCammon claims he was singled out by club

Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium

Gillingham's Priestfield stadium

by Alan McGuinness

A former Gillingham player who is suing the League Two side claims the club tried to frustrate him out by refusing to pay for his medical care.

Striker Mark McCammon, who played for the club from 2008-11, was offered an operation for his ankle injury on the NHS, which he claims was “out of character for a Football League club”.

The 33-year-old has brought a claim against the Gills and chairman Paul Scally for unfair dismissal, breach of contract, race victimisation and failure to pay wages.

When he signed in 2008, Mr McCammon became the highest paid player at the club, but less than three years later he had been sacked for gross misconduct amid a string of claims and counter-claims.

Mark McCammon
Mark McCammon

On the medical issue, the club said its policy was for non-urgent operations to be carried out on the NHS as a way of ensuring the club didn’t overspend on medical care.

In a witness statement submitted to the tribunal in Ashford, Mr Scally said the club “do not have the benefit of private health insurance for their players and rely on the management fund [a Football League fund to help clubs pay medical bills].

“We had a lot of injuries during the early part of the season 2010/11 and by October 2010, we were probably overspending at that stage of the season and we already had a very tight budget.”

The tribunal started yesterday with evidence from Mr Scally, and is due to continue until Friday.

The club strongly denies Mr McCammon’s allegations, which include a claim he was treated differently because of the colour of his skin.

The flashpoint in the dispute came in November 2010, when Mr McCammon and his fellow players and housemates Curtis Weston and Josh Gowling told the club they couldn’t make it in for treatment because of the snow.

Mr Scally thought the trio were “trying it on” and eventually they made their way to the ground following an ultimatum from the club.

Mr McCammon was then involved in a furious row with manager Andy Hessenthaler in which he accused the then Gills boss and his assistant Nicky Southall of being racists.

In his submission to the tribunal Mr Scally claimed the racism allegation was made as a way of “deflecting that he, Josh and Curtis had been caught out earlier that day lying”.

He added: “We felt that the comment was maliciously made and without any merit.”

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More