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Ebbsfleet United owner Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi on the club's financial future

Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi is not about to stop bankrolling Ebbsfleet United any time soon.

Long-term the plan is for the club to be financially self-sustainable and not dependant on Dr Al-Humaidi’s backing.

Increased revenue generated by the Fleet’s new main stand will go some way towards making that a reality but their Kuwaiti owner admits it won’t be a quick process.

Ebbsfleet chairman Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi Picture: Andy Payton
Ebbsfleet chairman Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi Picture: Andy Payton

Dr Al-Humaidi said: “Going forward, the ultimate aim is to keep the club viable. I don’t want to be financing the club forever.

“I prefer a model whereby the stands provide revenue streams and the club can support itself but there are demands in terms of operational costs, not just the playing and coaching aspect but in terms of general expenditure.

“Ebbsfleet United is run as a Football League club. It’s being run in a professional manner and that costs money. Our image is reflected in terms of how the football club is run and for the forseeable future, we’ll keep financing the club.”

Player welfare is high on the chairman’s list of priorities.

Dr Al-Humaidi said: “We are one family so we look after the players even through injuries and when they’re not playing.

“The best medical professionals look after our players because their wellbeing is important to us. We take care of them because this is the standard that we set for ourselves. The training ground is professional with good facilities. There are dieticians and it’s a well-run club.

“Many things are done behind the scenes. People don’t know about them but we are building foundations to progress the club higher up the pyramid.

“As long as that is in place, success will come, I’m pretty sure. But we’re not looking for success one season and the next season be struggling in a relegation battle. If the football club isn’t build on solid, professional foundations, there’s no use competing.

“I tasked Peter Varney, five years ago, with doing that and he’s achieved a tremendous job.”

Ebbsfleet’s average crowds have grown to 1,618 this season.

“When we took over it was 600-700 so that’s more than doubled in five years,” Dr Al-Humaidi said. “That says a lot about what’s happening on and off the pitch.

“The team’s playing nice football and the atmosphere has improved. We want the crowds to grow and we have a long-term plan in achieving that.

“You have Ebbsfleet Garden City, 15,000 homes being built a few miles away so we’ll be trying to attract those.

“There’s nothing better than a win and three points but if it’s an ugly three points week in, week out, I think people lose interest.

“People would rather go to a well-played football match, even if we don’t get the result every week, than playing hoofball.

“Having a nice style of play is critical in getting people hooked.”

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