TOWN fans will be allowed to watch their team play at Gillingham after a dispute between the Kent club and the police was resolved yesterday.

Swindon’s penultimate away game, at Priestfield Stadium, was at risk of being played behind closed doors because Gillingham FC refused to pay for policing.

The club disagreed with the police authorities’ grading of the game, but after talks on Tuesday night they did a U-turn, enabling it to go ahead.

Gillingham chairman, Paul Scally, said: “Under some duress we have paid under legal protest the amount the police were asking for, for this particular game on Saturday, on the basis that if we don’t reach an agreement within 28 days with the police on this expansive agreement, we will take matters to the high court and ask the court to determine the legality of the document they are asking us to sign. We have had to pay the police just under £10,000.

“We have a very experienced and long standing safety officer with a highly trained team of stewards who are all NVQ trained and we don’t believe the categorisation which was put on the game was appropriate.

“The new costing the police are trying to apply is a huge increase.

“As far as the Swindon game is concerned, we have reached a temporary agreement by paying this money under legal protest. There was no concern about Swindon Town fans or any fans but we are a professional football club and under league regulations we have to play our games in front of supporters.

“I am delighted the game is going ahead and I am looking forward to seeing Paolo Di Canio and the Swindon players and supporters. We certainly have had no issue with Swindon for many years and frankly I don’t foresee any issue on Saturday either.”

If an agreement was not arranged it was feared that Swindon, who are five points clear in League Two, could have secured promotion in front of an empty stadium.

As a result of the talks the council have now lifted the prohibition order on the match, allowing Town fans to watch the game.

Swindon Town Supporters Club spokesman Nigel Bennett said he was delighted but was frustrated with how long the decision took. “This has been a particularly frustrating time for fans who had plans or who are planning to go to the game,” he said. “It is difficult to understand exactly why this conclusion hasbeen made just three days from the event.

“Following the terrific support at Aldershot on Tuesday night, I am sure that Town fans, despite all the difficulties, will turn out in force again on Saturday.”

Medway council confirmed yesterday morning that the prohibition order had been lifted. Councillor Mike O’Brien, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said: “We are pleased that the police and the club have reached a resolution.”