Manager Josh Wright insists everyone is playing for their future at Ebbsfleet.

With relegation from the National League all-but-confirmed, Wright already has one eye on next season.

He’s snapped up wing-back Josh Passley and has warned his squad that they need to earn deals - either at Stonebridge Road or elsewhere next term.

“I’m looking at everyone every single day, whether they want to be here or they don’t, which I believe they do,” said Wright.

“Everyone more or less is playing for their future. Whether that’s at this football club or another, you can talk about pride, personal accolades and everything else but everyone is playing for their future.

“Everyone is playing for food and drink on their table, whether it be for them, their partner, their families, their children.”

Wright has already changed the mentality around the squad during his time in charge.

While the positive results his efforts have deserved are yet to follow, there’s reasons for him to be optimistic.

“I strongly believe there’s been a huge mindset change, and I mean that,” added the Fleet boss.

“I think I’m pretty sure everyone can see it. I know the players can see it and people around the club can see it.

“Has it been enough? No, because the three points hasn’t been there, but there’s been a huge mindset change. I will continue to strive to do that, which I will. The longer that I do it, the more it will happen.

“What we do now and how we finish and how we act and how we produce on a matchday and everything else that goes on, we will take into pre-season and next season, and that’s why it’s so vital.

Read more: ‘It’s nowhere near good enough’

“Regardless of whether people have basically concluded that we are or we’re going to get relegated or where we’re going to be next season, put that to one side for now because I’m talking about what we do as a group.

“The whole football club will play a part into the summer, into pre-season, into next season.

“That’s why it’s crucial that we keep working on the mindset and the mentality side of things, and we keep working on the performance and the tactics and everything else that comes with being at a football club.”

With mentality high on his wishlist, it’s no surprise that Wright will look to recruit players for their character as much as their ability during the close season.

“I’d like to think that people can see not just the attributes and the ability of some of the players that are brought in, but the characters that I’ve brought in as well,” said Wright.

“I know they don’t always get to see the characters, but when you look at a good footballer on the eye on a matchday and you think, oh, he’s a great player, let me tell you, more times than not, they’re a good character as well.

“They’re strong-willed, they’re winners, they’re good people, and they’ve got everything that it takes to be successful.

“That will be a crucial part of my recruitment going into next season about getting the right people and the right characters.

“I will get the people that I think are good enough, one way or another, whether it be their athleticism, whether it be the way they can pass the ball, whether it be the way they can score a goal, or whether it be the way they can defend the box.

“But it will be about characters and it will be about personalities, and that will be a massive, massive thing when I sign my players like I already have and like I will continue to do moving forward.”