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===Recent highs and lows=== [[File:Gillsplayoff2000.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|right|Gillingham fans at the 2000 Division Two play-off final|alt=A stadium full of spectators. Those nearest the camera are waving blue and white flags.]] Beset with financial problems, the club went into administration in January 1995, and by the end of the [[1994β95 in English football|1994β95]] season faced the threat of being expelled from the Football League and closed down.<ref name="GFCHist" /> In June 1995, however, a London-based businessman, [[Paul Scally]], stepped in and bought the club.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=105}} He brought in new manager [[Tony Pulis]], who led Gillingham to promotion in his first season, finishing second in the old Division Three (now [[Football League Two]]).<ref name="FCHD" /> In 1999 the Gills made the play-offs but lost in the [[1999 Football League Second Division play-off Final|final]] to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. The Gills were 2β0 up with less than two minutes left only to see City score twice, the equaliser in injury time, and go on to win 3β1 in a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shoot-out]].<ref name=guardrep>{{Cite web | url = https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999921/the-guardian/ | work = [[The Guardian]] | via = [[Newspapers.com]] | access-date = 3 October 2021 | title = Now City turn lost cause into a triumph | first = Trevor | last = Haylett | date = 31 May 1999 | page = 25 | archive-date = 27 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150752/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999921/the-guardian/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=timesrep>{{Cite news | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500231797/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=5f472bb6 | work = [[The Times]] | via = [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] | title = City stage another Manchester late show | page = 31 | date = 31 May 1999 | first = Keith | last = Pike | url-access = subscription | access-date = 3 April 2021 | archive-date = 27 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150804/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0500231797&v=2.1&it=r&sid=TTDA&asid=5f472bb6 | url-status = live }}</ref> Soon after the play-off loss, Pulis was sacked for gross misconduct,<ref name="cham">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/apr/26/newsstory.sport1|title=Pulis 'drank champagne' after sacking|work=The Guardian|author=Jon Brodkin|date=26 April 2001|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=9 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309141237/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PlayOffsDetail/0%2C%2C10794~475418%2C00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Peter John Taylor|Peter Taylor]] appointed manager.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/984825.stm | title = Taylor-made for top job | access-date = 3 October 2021 | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 14 November 2000 | archive-date = 7 April 2003 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030407071458/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/984825.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> In the [[1999β00 in English football|1999β00]] season Gillingham qualified for the play-offs again, where they faced [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in the [[2000 Football League Second Division play-off Final|final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]. The game finished 1β1 after 90 minutes, but, thanks to goals in extra time from substitutes [[Steve Butler (footballer)|Steve Butler]] and [[Andy Thomson (footballer born 1971)|Andy Thomson]], the Gills won 3β2 and were promoted to Division One for the first time.<ref name=lucky>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm|title=Second time lucky for Gills|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=28 May 2000|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=3 March 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030303203928/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Taylor then left to manage [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], and [[Andy Hessenthaler]] was appointed as player-manager.<ref name="Hess out" /> He led the club to their best ever league finish of eleventh in the 2002β03 season,<ref name="FCHD" /> but the following season saw the club narrowly avoid relegation on [[goal difference]]. Hessenthaler resigned as manager in November 2004,<ref name="Hess out">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm|title=Hessenthaler steps down at Gills|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 April 2007|date=23 November 2004|archive-date=27 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727175320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and new boss [[Stan Ternent]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4071489.stm|title=Gills unveil Ternent as manager|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=3 October 2021|date=7 December 2004|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504213802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4071489.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> was unable to prevent the Gills' relegation to [[Football League One|League One]]. At the end of the [[2007β08 in English football|2007β08]] season the club was relegated again, this time to League Two,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7377686.stm|title=Leeds 2β1 Gillingham|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 October 2021|date=3 May 2008|archive-date=5 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505092607/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7377686.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> but an immediate return to the third level was secured via the play-offs after beating [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] in the [[2009 Football League Two play-off Final|final]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8048284.stm|title=Gillingham 1β0 Shrewsbury|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 October 2021|access-date=23 May 2009|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525150909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8048284.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2009β10 in English football|2009β10]] season, however, the Gills slipped into the bottom four on the last day, and were relegated back to League Two, having failed to win a single away game in the league all season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8632662.stm|title=Wycombe 3β0 Gillingham|publisher=BBC|date=8 May 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=11 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511160330/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8632662.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in manager [[Mark Stimson]] having his contract terminated,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8672351.stm|title=Manager Mark Stimson leaves Gillingham|publisher=BBC|date=10 May 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=13 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513085349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8672351.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and Andy Hessenthaler was appointed as manager of the club for the second time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8698075.stm|title=Andy Hessenthaler named new Gillingham Manager|publisher=BBC|date=21 May 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=24 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524102958/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8698075.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> At the start of the [[2012β13 in English football|2012β13]] season Hessenthaler was replaced by [[Martin Allen (footballer)|Martin Allen]], who led the club to promotion as League Two champions in his first season in charge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cawdell |first1=Luke |title=Manager Martin Allen pays tribute to club's fans as sell-out crowd see Gillingham crowned League 2 champions |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/manager-martin-allen-pays-tribut-a53675/ |access-date=3 October 2021 |work=KentOnline |date=22 April 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925212657/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/manager-martin-allen-pays-tribut-a53675/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cawdell |first1=Luke |title=Looking back at the day Gillingham won the League 2 title at Priestfield in front of a sell-out crowd |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/the-day-gills-won-the-league-in-pictures-225911/ |access-date=3 October 2021 |work=KentOnline |date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925220853/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/the-day-gills-won-the-league-in-pictures-225911/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, shortly after winning League Two, Allen was sacked in what many saw as a surprise after a poor start to the season.<ref name="MA out">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/peter-taylor-drafted-in-following-sacking-of-martin-allen-at-gillingham-8877756.html|title=Peter Taylor drafted in following sacking of Martin Allen at Gillingham|work=[[The Independent]]|date=13 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717184606/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/peter-taylor-drafted-in-following-sacking-of-martin-allen-at-gillingham-8877756.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The club remained in League One from 2013 up until 2022, with a best finish of ninth, achieved in the [[2015–16 in English football|2015–16]] season.<ref name="FCHD" /> In the [[2021β22 in English football|2021β22]] season, Gillingham were relegated back into League Two.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198302|title=Gillingham 0–2 Rotherham United|publisher=BBC|date=20 April 2022|access-date=20 April 2022|archive-date=30 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430075220/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198302|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2022, Florida-based property tycoon Brad Galinson acquired a majority shareholding in the club, with Scally retaining minority ownership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64079960|title=Gillingham: Brad Galinson completes takeover after buying majority stake|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=23 December 2022|date=23 December 2022|archive-date=23 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223184835/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64079960|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2023 the club confirmed that Galinson would also take on the position of Chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cawdell |first=Luke |date=2023-01-03 |title=Scally 'remains a big asset to Gillingham' says new owner |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-brad-galinson-279806/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=[[Kent Online]] |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103220249/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-brad-galinson-279806/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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