When people call someone in football a ‘character’, it invariably results in them being mentally unstable or a dickhead. Martin Allen is a character.

The Gillingham manager pulled one of his ‘classic’ japes on deadline day, when he tricked his Chairman.

Allen left an answer phone message for Paul Scally about a ‘Premier League’ club making an offer for one of the Gillingham squad.

Let the award-winning comedian take up the story:

Mr Scally called my mobile 1.7 seconds later asking who it was and which club it was? I let him know it was from Lewes [a Ryman Premier League club]. The phone line went dead and I must say I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Oh Martin, what a character.