 In June 1995 a London @-@ based former office supplies salesman , Paul Scally , stepped in and bought the club for a nominal fee . Scally brought in new manager Tony Pulis , who signed almost a complete new team and led Gillingham to promotion in his first season , finishing second in Division Three ( now Football League Two ) . This season was also notable for the fact that the team only conceded 20 league goals – a league record for a 46 @-@ game season . In 1999 Gillingham reached the playoffs , but lost in the Second Division play @-@ off final against Manchester City . Following goals by the prolific partnership of Robert Taylor and Carl Asaba , the Gills led 2 – 0 with less than two minutes left , only to see Manchester City score twice , the equaliser in injury time , and then win a penalty shoot @-@ out 3 – 1 . 
