Ebbsfleet United have sacked manager Steve Brown.

Brown learned his fate at a board meeting on Wednesday, the Fleet having crashed to a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Gosport Borough the night before.

Fleet chairman Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi said: "I feel that the team needs a change of direction. I would like to thank Steve for all his efforts on behalf of the club and wish him well for the future."

Brown leaves Ebbsfleet fourth in Vanarama Conference South, seven points behind leaders Boreham Wood.

The 41-year-old spent just under 18 months in the Stonebridge Road hotseat, having been appointed as Liam Daish’s successor in June 2013.

Brown had to assemble an almost entirely new squad last summer, having only offered contracts to four of the players who had worked under Daish.

The former Charlton defender won just one of his first nine games in charge but Brown then oversaw a club record nine-match winning run in November and December.

He signed a two-year extension to his contract in April 2014.

Fleet finished fourth in the league to qualify for the play-offs but after sweeping Bromley aside in the semi-finals, they lost 1-0 at home to arch-rivals Dover Athletic in the final.

Brown was given more money to spend in the summer, with Kuwaiti owner Dr Al-Humaidi eager to secure automatic promotion to non-league’s top flight – and eventually the Football League.

Fleet then started training three mornings a week at Cobdown in pre-season.

But after winning their first two games of this season, Brown's side lost three on the trot away from home and frustrations started to mount on the terraces.

Ebbsfleet’s previously proud home record under Brown crumbled in the last few weeks of his reign, with Basingstoke, Hayes & Yeading and Gosport all winning at The PHB Stadium.