GRAVESEND & Northfleet chairman Brian Kilcullen and chief executive Glenn Aitken met with Gillingham’s Paul Scally on Monday, increasing speculation that the two clubs could groundshare in a new purpose-built stadium in North Kent.

The two were spotted shortly after 11.30am at Priestfield before Gillingham’s home game against Walsall. They returned to Stonebridge Road in time to see the club’s 2-0 home win over Farnborough.

Mr Scally, Gillingham’s chairman, is considering an alternative site, should Medway Council reject his preferred choice at Temple Marsh, Strood.

A national Sunday newspaper last weekend reported Mr Scally as saying that Gillingham would be leaving Priestfield within the next four years.

Should a new stadium be constructed in North Kent, it would almost certainly be built in the huge Thames Gateway development, which includes Gravesham.

Mr Kilcullen disclosed: “Paul Scally asked to meet me in December and explained his plans for a new ground development at Temple Marsh, Strood.

“He also mentioned that, if unsuccessful, he might seek alternatives elsewhere in Kent.

“He mentioned Gravesham as being an attractive location and asked if we would be interested in sharing a ground.

“I explained that I clearly needed to think it through carefully, but that I would retain an open mind if I felt it would be in the interests of Gravesend and Northfleet Football Club.

“I explained that we had already identified the potential in the Borough ourselves and had been working closely with our landlord and council representatives since January, 2002 on developing the existing site and/or a new one.

“It was agreed that Paul Scally would work on Temple Marsh and we would work on our project until such time as his project looked in doubt. We would then address the pros and cons in detail.”

Gillingham have until June to come up with a feasibility study to convince Medway Council that they can build a stadium at Temple Marsh.

Failure to meet that deadline would result in the Council considering other planning applications from different companies.

The Temple Marsh site is jointly owned by Medway Council, Morgan’s Timber Yard and Lafarge Cement who are believed to be preparing a planning application for developing their piece of the land.