WEMBLEY in 2000 has been the highlight of the Scally era, according to the Gillingham chairman.

Paul Scally will celebrate 10 years in charge at Priestfield in June, a period which has seen the club rise from the brink of extinction to the heights of Championship football.

Along the way, Gillingham have finished runners-up in the old Division 3, been to two play-off finals at Wembley, losing against Manchester City in 1999 before beating Wigan in 2000 and have also been to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

But he said the biggest low will remain with him for the rest of his life but stopped short of revealing what it was.

He also spoke about the club’s continuing battle to survive after the loss of the ITV Digital money, which amassed to £5.8m, and said the club needed to push forward with plans to build a new stadium within Medway or within a 10-mile radius.

He said on the club’s website: "I could, and probably will, write a book on my experiences during that time about the highs (of which there have been many) and the lows (of which there have been a few).

"For me, the biggest 'high' was our win at Wembley in May 2000 and the sheer jubilation of reaching Division 1 for, incredibly, the first time in the club’s long history.

"In contrast, my biggest low shall remain with me for the rest of my life, long after I’ve left Priestfield, and for the moment shall not be worthy of mention.

"However, what must be worthy of mention is my biggest challenge as your chairman, a challenge which I have battled with over the last two years and a challenge which, with your help, we are coming closer to beating.

"I am, of course, referring to the financial chaos bestowed on us in 2002 and while I appreciate many people are fed up hearing of ITV Digital, me included, it is a fact that has to be dealt with and hopefully by May 2006, it will be a matter for the archives once and for all."

He added: "There is definitely light at the end of what has been a particularly dark tunnel over the last three years. We need to remain focused on our objectives and look at the bigger picture – the long-term future of the club we all care so much about.

"Irrespective of division or opposition, we are on the road to financial and thus footballing recovery. If we can achieve that - we can achieve anything."