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Gillingham Football Club had its electricity cut off last week and it wasn't a question of a shilling in the meter but an unpaid bill of £100,000. Angry club chairman Paul Scally is planning to take legal action against EDF Energy for pulling the plug over 'continued non-payment of electricity bills.' The power giant says that the move to cut power was taken with 'great regret' but it got tough after threatening to cut the club off for seven months. Mr Scally commented, 'We are talking to lawyers about a substantial claim against EDF for damages caused by the manner in which they cut the power.' Engineers plunged the Priestfield stadium into darkness at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Club officials needed to get the power back on for Saturday's pre-season friendly against Queen's Park Rangers. Fortunately, Gillingham's bank manager authorised a payment to clear off all the outstandung debt and the back was back on by late on Thursday. An EDF spokesman commented, 'To actually cut the power to a major business is a very rare occurrence. But we were left with very little choice.' However, the episode cast a further shadow over the club which has admitted £10m of debt.
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