We should be playing a Cup game in the Capital, says Gillingham chief Paul Scally

GILLINGHAM chairman Paul Scally says he’s staggered that the club has been drawn away to Plymouth Argyle in the First Round of the Capital One Cup in August.

The Gills chief emailed The Football League to put across his concerns about the long midweek trip that supporters will have to make to watch the game.

The letter was posted on the club’s official website.

He said: “Have just received the draw for the Capital One Cup. To say I’m staggered to have been in the hat with Plymouth Argyle when I’m told the draw is regionalised would be an understatement!

“Is this logic gone completely mad? A 510 mile round trip, over 10 hours on a coach on a Tuesday night for a first round tie is sheer stupidity, in fact borders on inefficiency by the league in allowing two clubs so far apart to be competing at such an early stage in the competition.

“Exactly how many supporters do the league think we are going to be able to take, given they would have to take a day, or probably two days off work to make such a long and expensive trip.

“We have discussed many times over the years as a League about ensuring fans get a good deal, that we ensure we play  “More Meaningful Matches’ especially in regards to midweek games, so where does this particular game fit into that ethos, or are we still learning, in fact it appears we have learnt nothing.

“Plymouth should be playing a side from the South West, Gillingham should be playing a game in London or the South East, just like Millwall, Barnet, Wycombe, Charlton and others are playing. 

“I am hugely disappointed at this pairing and quite understandably our supporters will be horrified and disturbed at missing out on an opportunity to support their team.”

Premier League and Football League Fixtures are published at 09:00 tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, former Gillingham midfielder Aidan Blanchard, 19, continues his search for a new club in the Kent area following his release from the League One club in the summer.

CAPITAL ONE CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW:

Carlisle United v Chesterfield
Nottingham Forest v Walsall
Fleetwood Town v Hartlepool United
Scunthorpe United v Barnsley
Bolton Wanderers v Burton Albion
Accrington Stanley v Hull City
Rochdale v Coventry City
Oldham Athletic v Middlesbrough
Huddersfield Town v Notts County
Blackburn Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
Morecambe v Sheffield United
Doncaster Rovers v Leeds United
Wigan Athletic v Bury
Northampton Town v Blackpool
Sheffield Wednesday v Mansfield Town
Rotherham United v Cambridge United
Crewe Alexandra v Preston North End
York City v Bradford City
Port Vale v Burnley
Peterborough United v Crawley Town
Yeovil Town v Queens Park Rangers
Plymouth Argyle v Gillingham
Swindon Town v Exeter City
Bristol Rovers v Birmingham City
Ipswich Town v Stevenage
Luton Town v Bristol City
Charlton Athletic v Dagenham & Redbridge
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newport County
Brentford v Oxford United
Portsmouth v Derby County
Southend United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Milton Keynes Dons v Leyton Orient
Cardiff City v AFC Wimbledon
Millwall v Barnet
Wycombe Wanderers v Fulham
Colchester United v Reading

Visit Gillingham’s website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com