Gillingham Football Club’s FA Cup game with Stoke City at Priestfield will go ahead after a dispute over policing costs.

News began to break around 3pm on Friday that the game would have to be postponed as Gillingham and the local police had been unable to agree the costs of policing the game, with Medway Council putting a prohibition notice on the ground being used without policing.

However, some thirty minutes later and after much confusion, along with talking behind the secnes, Medway Council issued the following statement:

Statement on FA Cup Third Round match between Gillingham FC and Stoke FC – Saturday, 7 January 2012: Updated: 3.32pm 6/1/12

“Following the dispute between Gillingham Football Club and Kent Police about policing costs for tomorrow’s match between Gillingham and Stoke, Medway Council had been reluctantly forced to require the presence of police within Priestfield Stadium at the match.

“This followed advice from Kent Police that they have specific intelligence that it would be unsafe for the match to go ahead without them being present within the ground.

“As the licensing authority, it is the council’s responsibility to ensure the match is safe for all fans and residents.

“Kent Police and Gillingham Football Club have since been in further discussions to resolve their differences in this matter and we understand these talks have now concluded and that Kent Police will be providing a police presence within the stadium at tomorrow’s match.

“Medway Council welcomes this agreement between the club and the police that allows the match to proceed as planned tomorrow and are pleased that all the thousands of fans who have bought tickets will get to see this important game.”

The dispute centred around the amount Gillingham had to pay Kent Police for policing the game within the ground with anticipated costs estimated at £8,800.

Gillingham Football Club then issued the following statement on their website:

“Gillingham Football Club are aware that some issues regarding our FA Cup Third-round tie with Stoke City have been made public.”

“We would like to advise all supporters that all issues with Medway Council and the Police have been resolved and the game will go ahead as planned.”

You couldn’t make it up!