A former Gillingham player's claims that he was unfairly dimissed after being racially discriminated against at his ex-club were made "maliciously and were without foundation", an employment tribunal was told.

Mark McCammon, 33, alleged that he and other black players were treated differently to white players at the club, a claim that chairman Paul Scally has vehemently denied.

Scally said that the club haven't had to deal with a case of racism for 18 years, and that he didn't take McCammon's "vindictive" claims seriously.

"I'm absolutely confident and convinced that there is no racism at the club. The incident on November 30 where Mr McCammon said he made some allegations of racism were, I believe, made maliciously and were without foundation," McCammon told the tribunal.

"I can honestly say we have never in 18 years had an allegation of racism to consider but we take racism seriously as a football club. I didn't take [McCammon's claims] seriously as I considered it to be a vindictive claim of racial discrimination.

"I considered it to be a malicious, vindictive, wild and aggressive comment, not worthy of consideration as racism."

The case continues.