The interim chairman said King’s assessment of the state of the club is not accurate and believes there is no appetite at boardroom level for his return.
“I think he’s got it wrong,” said the interim chairman. “I think it’s unfair. What exactly is he saying is not good? What’s he saying is going wrong?
“Give us a plan and tell me. If Dave has some terrific plan to tell me where we’re all going wrong, we will read that plan and consider it.
“I haven’t spoken to Dave. Dave gave me one of the happiest days of my life when he asked me to join him [on the board] 10 years ago and I’ll never forget it. Since then we’ve socialised when he’s been over and played golf but I haven’t spoken to him, no.”
Gilligan expects to be in post for a period of months and also addressed the club’s ongoing search for a new chief executive, following James Bisgrove’s summer departure, describing it as a “priority”.