Caretaker boss Kevin Watson has admitted he wants to become Ebbsfleet manager on a permanent basis.

Watson took charge of the Fleet for the first time against Maidenhead on Saturday after Garry Hill was sacked two days earlier.

“I’ve told the owner that I would love to take this team forward, especially with what I’ve seen on Saturday,” said Watson.

“Whatever has gone before and why they are down the bottom of the league doesn’t concern me.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is a fresh start. We’ve lost the first game but that’s all it is.”

Watson, who was helped out on the touchline by former Maidstone and Welling coach Tristan Lewis, was unable to inspire a Fleet win as they went down 2-1 at home to Maidenhead.

But those who braved the rain at Stonebridge Road saw a team intent on passing the ball around and were more pleasing on the eye

“I was proud of them, the way they showed the courage,” said Watson. “There’s more than one way of being brave in a football match, there’s more than just going round smashing people and getting in people’s faces.

“There’s having the bravery to get on the ball and pass it. In the two days I’ve been here (alone), I’ve stressed that’s how I play the game and that’s how I’ve always been coached to play the game and I’ll continue to coach and manage that way.

“To see the change in it is heartening. We’ve lost the game again and that is a concern for me. I came into the game and fully expected to win. To lose in the manner we did is gutting.”

Report: Ebbsfleet 1 Maidenhead 2

Watson’s frustrations stem from Maidenhead’s winning goal – a free header inside the six-yard box from a corner.

But he also felt his team could have done more going forward at times.

“I actually enjoyed watching our boys for long spells,” he said. “The only criticism I would have is that we didn’t make their keeper work enough for all the possession that we had and if you continue to not defend properly from set pieces then you’ve got no chance.

“They rarely threatened , we bossed the game. We had loads of possession. I know possession doesn’t count for goals but I’m extremely disappointed.

“I stood outside (the dressing room) and thought what do I say to them, apart from the final ball that we refused a couple of times which I wasn’t happy with.

“I’ve asked them to pass it, but at some point the ball has to go into the box when you get a chance and I felt we turned it down on numerous occasions.

“Again, they always say when you’re attacking, you’re defending. I think at times we had so much of the ball that we switched off when we had it.

“The first goal we’ve watched the videos and we know the lad’s got good quality but for it to go in like that (deflected) is an absolute sickener, when we’ve got the first goal and were playing so well.

“That’s what happens when you are down there. In the second half they’ve rarely been in and around our box, there were a couple that went in the stand behind the goal.”

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