Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has spoken of his disappointment at losing a friend in Peter Taylor.

The two men haven’t spoken since a heated telephone exchange on New Year’s Eve, which led to Taylor’s sacking.

Taylor recently admitted in a radio interview that he regretted the way he spoke to Mr Scally that day and the Gills chairman responded by insisting his former manager was welcome to Priestfield at any time.

“The only disappointing thing is that I lost a friend,” said Mr Scally.

“I don’t know why. I haven’t got any answers to that. I would love to see him again. I like Peter, he has been a good friend of mine for a long time and I am disappointed about what happened on New Year’s Eve.

“It wasn’t my doing or anything that I did. I think he was feeling the pressure and don’t think he was a man that took pressure well, certainly pressure from fans.

“Lots of people don’t like criticism and criticism isn’t nice – it got to him a bit. I am disappointed with the way he went. We haven’t spoken since but he would always be welcome back.”

Taylor has since taken over as manager of Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.

Mr Scally didn’t go as far as repeating the words said in that ill-fated telephone call but did go some way to explaining why it led to Taylor’s sacking. Read his exclusive comments in this Friday's Medway Messenger newspaper.