After the Gills were relegated once again in the 1988–89 season, Tony Pulis managed the club to promotion seven years later. Pulis also took the team to the final of the play-offs for promotion to the second tier of English football in the 1998–99 season. Pulis was sacked immediately after this for gross misconduct, but his successor, Peter Taylor, took the club back to the play-off final the following season, in which victory over Wigan Athletic saw the club promoted to Division One for the first time in its history.
After the Gills were demoted once more in the 1988–89 season, Tony Pulis guided the club to promotion seven years later. Pulis also led the team to the final of the playoffs for promotion to the top tier of English football in the 1998–99 season. Pulis was dismissed immediately after this for gross misconduct, but his successor, Peter Taylor, took the club back to the playoff final the following season, in which a victory over Wigan Athletic resulted in the club's promotion to Division One for the first time in its history.