Ebbsfleet United financial restructure sees budget cut and staff leave the club
16:25, 18 October 2018
updated: 19:54, 20 October 2018
Ebbsfleet United are in financial trouble.
Players have been paid late in seven of the last 10 months and now several are set to leave the club.
Coaches Steve Gritt and David Jupp left the club today and the changes won't end there.
Fleet players and staff turned up four days late for the start of pre-season training because they hadn't been paid.
Manager Daryl McMahon is expected to carry on despite the ongoing uncertainty hanging over the club.
Fleet, who reached the National League play-offs last season, have been forced to loan players out to raise funds.
They've dropped to 17th on the back of a poor run which has seen them win just once in nine matches.
Commenting on the departures of Gritt and Jupp, vice-chairman Dean Pooley told the club's website: "I started out playing under Steve Gritt and David Jupp to then working alongside them and I’ve seen up close how dedicated and hard-working they have been in all their years with this football club.
"To lose them now is a blow and I simply can do no more right this minute than thank them sincerely and wish them all the best for the future" - Daryl McMahon
"That, of course, makes our decision to part ways even harder on a personal level.
"I can’t thank them enough for their input in my time here. They can be justifiably proud of our promotion and play-off qualification over the past two seasons and this club has consistently improved year on year since 2015 right up to last season’s sixth place.
"They depart with all of this football club’s warmest wishes for the future.”
McMahon added: "I’m very sad to have to lose them. They’ve been terrific for the football club and me as a player working under them.
"Then as my assistant and first-team coach for three years where we went through three play-off campaigns together in a row.
"To lose them now is a blow and I simply can do no more right this minute than thank them sincerely and wish them all the best for the future."
Fleet owner Dr Abdulla al-Humaidi issued a statement shortly after the story broke.
He said: "KEH has now been the proud owner of Ebbsfleet United Football Club for over five years and in that time we have achieved a great deal both on and off the pitch.
"I now feel this is the right time to restructure the football club across the board to ensure it is fully prepared for the challenges ahead.
"It has always been my ambition to make the club self-sufficient and the restructure will produce a sound platform on which to achieve that. Changes are ongoing and will continue to evolve.
"I remain committed to Ebbsfleet United and will continue to be so for years to come."
Fleet are at home to Worthing in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday.
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