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Ebbsfleet United boss Garry Hill sitting tight after offering players a free transfer

00:00, 23 May 2019

Manager Garry Hill is still waiting for the phone to ring as Ebbsfleet’s offer of free transfers for their contracted players nears expiry.

The six players signed up for next season have been given until the end of next week to get themselves a move away from Stonebridge Road.

Michael Cheek joined Bromley earlier this month but Ebou Adams, Nathan Ashmore, Jack King, Sean Shields, Corey Whitely and Lawrie Wilson remain on the books.

Ebbsfleet United (Red) v Cheltenham Town (Yellow) in the FA Cup first round..Pictured is Ebbsfleet Manager Garry Hill .Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, DA11 9GN.Picture: Andy Jones. (5327294)
Ebbsfleet United (Red) v Cheltenham Town (Yellow) in the FA Cup first round..Pictured is Ebbsfleet Manager Garry Hill .Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, DA11 9GN.Picture: Andy Jones. (5327294)

Hill said: “I think there will be a lot of players out there this year and it’s early days at the present time.

“Managers and players are probably taking their time on decisions they have to make or they’re thinking what’s right for them.

“I just get on with things, be up front, let everyone know what the picture is and it’s up to players what they do.

“It’s their call. I’ve made my declaration nice and early, nice and clear, and I can’t be any fairer than that.”

So does the manager expect more deals to be done before the end of May?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t got a clue and I haven’t really taken any interest in it. I’m not saying that in a rude way but I’ve always said I will see where I’m going after the end of May.

“What I’ve done is given everybody an opportunity to make a decision. That’s what I’ve said, from May 2 to the end of May.

“I don’t need to talk to anybody or ring anybody up. People have got my number so if they’ve got any discussions to have, they can call me.

Lawrie Wilson has another year on his contract at Ebbsfleet Picture: Andy Jones
Lawrie Wilson has another year on his contract at Ebbsfleet Picture: Andy Jones

“That’s not being rude about things but if I’ve made my position clear at the start of the month, I’ll honour that month all the way through.

“The players have all heard it and know there’s an opportunity out there, if they feel the time is right to move on, move on.

“You can’t be fairer than that, can you?

“I haven’t even thought about what happens in June. I’ve given a month and I don’t do any more than that at the moment. I’ll see what I’ve got at the end of May.

“I’ve done my bit and that’s where I am. I’m not there to make statements where I take a different view or this, that and the other.

“I’ve said availability, free transfer of any player throughout the month of May. Is that fair or not?

“It’s up to other people to either represent or for those players to make that decision.

“They’re under contract, the football players, so I’ve just given them a goodwill gesture back that if they’re not happy at the football club, here’s an opportunity for you, for a month, with your agents, to go and sort it out. I can’t be fairer than that.”

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