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Ebbsfleet United boss Daryl McMahon wants to keep his squad together

Daryl McMahon is determined to keep his squad together despite the changing financial landscape at Ebbsfleet United.

Players have been made available for transfer and two members of McMahon’s backroom staff left the club last week.

Wage payments have been late in seven of the last 10 months and the squad reported back late for pre-season because of this.

Ebbsfleet United manager Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Jones
Ebbsfleet United manager Daryl McMahon Picture: Andy Jones

McMahon has been inundated with calls from rival managers since news of the Fleet’s financial restructure broke last week.

But he said: “It’s a group I want to keep together. It’s a group I’ve put together and a group that, last season, got to the play-offs.

“We won promotion with a lot of them, some of them have been here a long time and I don’t want to lose any of them.

“I’m just over three years into being a manager and this is probably the biggest time you learn.

“I’m learning a lot right now about all different stuff and I look forward to keeping on learning.”

Assistant manager Steve Gritt and first team coach David Jupp were let go last week while Fleet were preparing for their FA Cup tie against Worthing.

“They’ve been brilliant for me,” McMahon said. “I worked under them as a player here for two years and then I brought them back to the club when I became manager.

“We’ve had three full seasons together and three play-off campaigns so they’ve been excellent for me.

“It’s not my decision (to lose them). It’s difficult because we’re close but there will be a restructure and we’ll see what happens.”

Corey Whitely up for a header during the FA Cup win over Worthing Picture: Andy Jones
Corey Whitely up for a header during the FA Cup win over Worthing Picture: Andy Jones

Ebbsfleet won the game 4-0 and they’ve been drawn at home to Cheltenham, of League 2, in the FA Cup first round.

That tie will be played over the weekend of November 10 but Fleet have three games in the National League before that.

The first of those is away to Salford City on Saturday, with the Ammies top of the league on goal difference.

McMahon said: “I’d be very surprised if they don’t win the league. It’ll be a tough game but we’re looking forward to it.

“They’ve brought in a good manager (Graham Alexander) from League 1 and they’ve signed some really good players.

“Their backroom team of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have invested in the club and the amount of experience they’ve got in football is massive in terms of their project.

“On and off the pitch, they’re looking like a good club.

“Right now, they’re the team blowing everyone away. They’ll be expected to win but we’ll go there and put a performance on.”

Coventry loanee Reise Allassani is on his way back from an Achilles injury while Dean Rance (eye) will be fit to start.

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