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Ebbsfleet United boss Daryl McMahon not about to start contract talks with his players during the title race

Daryl McMahon says contract talks at Ebbsfleet can wait while his side get on with the serious business of fighting for the league title.

The Fleet manager doesn’t want discussions around new deals distracting his players as they bid to stay at the top of National League South.

McMahon’s side are 11 points clear ahead of Saturday’s trip to Oxford City and the 32-year-old has no plans to talk contracts while there’s a championship to be won.

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

"I don’t think I need to," he said. "Everyone here is going to be getting paid until the end of the season and there’s still a massive job to do.

"It can take away the focus of what we’re trying to do. It’s never easy doing contracts with players. It doesn’t normally take an hour or 10 minutes, it can take a couple of weeks or a couple of months.

"At this stage of the season it’s not the right time – we don’t need the distraction.

"We try to do everything professionally at the club. On the pitch, at the training ground and off the pitch, the players are looked after and we believe that buys us the time to say ‘let’s go and achieve something now’ and we can talk about it after that."

Saturday’s game at Marsh Lane will be the third meeting between Ebbsfleet and Oxford this season.

Luke Coulson playing against Ebbsfleet for Oxford City Picture: Andy Payton
Luke Coulson playing against Ebbsfleet for Oxford City Picture: Andy Payton

The sides played out a 1-1 draw in the league at Stonebridge Road in November before City knocked Fleet out of the FA Trophy in December.

That 3-1 loss remains Ebbsfleet’s only away defeat of the season.

McMahon said: "The game at home was a good game but the away game in the Trophy, we weren’t great. Tom Bonner got sent off as well and it just wasn’t a good day.

"We’re looking forward to going there on Saturday - I am, anyway - because we need to put a show on down there because of the last away game.

"We travelled brilliantly that day in terms of the fans and they didn’t get what they deserved."

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