Gillingham chairman Paul Scally will step up the hunt for potential investors after appointing a new chief executive.

The arrival of Mark Jones will free up time for Mr Scally to seek individuals willing to invest money into the club and those wanting to get involved with his plans for a new stadium.

Mr Scally has already been courting what he described last month as “big players” to help finance a new stadium and, with Mr Jones on board, he can now travel more freely in pursuit of investors.

The Gills chairman said: “I will continue to handle all player purchases and team matters but will be travelling extensively in my efforts to finance the new arena and seek investment in the playing side of the business.”

The move comes two years after the last chief executive, Graham Hover, departed by “mutual consent” after just seven months at the club.

His appointment was also made in a bid to help the chairman concentrate his efforts on sorting out the club’s long-running fight to secure a new stadium.

With Hover gone, Mr Scally retook the position of chief executive but the strain of trying to combine the day-to-day running of the club together with restructuring the debts and attracting new investors and securing a new ground has left the chairman with no option but to off-load some of his work commitments.

“As part of my efforts to create more time to work on the new stadium and other strategic matters, like external investment and team development, I have now appointed a new chief executive,” he said.

“I have every confidence that his time at the club will be successful and beneficial.”