Garry Hill says a tough start to this season is nothing compared to what he’s already gone through as Ebbsfleet manager.

Fleet have lost their first two matches in the National League, shipping seven goals in the process, and tougher tests lie ahead.

They go to title favourites AFC Fylde on Saturday before facing Yeovil, Solihull Moors and Notts County.

It’s a daunting prospect for a small squad still getting to know each other but Hill insists he’s up for the challenge.

He said: “This is nowhere near what we’ve had to deal with over the last seven or eight months. I’ll show you what pressure is and I’ll handle it all.

“I could have had a player, on my phone, I’ll show you, but the terms weren’t right. I have inherited things in the past and we are a different football club now.

“I’m pleased for the boss (owner Dr Abdulla al-Humaidi) because it’s always been hard for him trying to do his bit and it’s a new structure.

“We have got a football club where we are trying to build and we all have to do it together.

“I’m as positive as anyone. You’ll never see me with cold sores round my mouth and feeling sorry for myself, it’s not my nature.

“I’ve seen enough to handle pressure at this football club which other people could not handle or even dream of taking the challenge. I relish it, I really do.”

Ebbsfleet lost 3-1 at Bromley on Tuesday night having gone down 4-1 at home to Halifax on Saturday.

Jack King returns from suspension to captain the side at Fylde, who reached the play-off final last season, but Hill knows he still needs more players.

He said: “I want a centre-half and I want another forward, there’s no secret about that.

“I know what I want to do and I know the way we want to play which I think will benefit (full-backs) Lawrie Wilson and Aswad Thomas.

“It will benefit Lawless, Ball and Ayo (Obileye) in the middle of midfield, we will benefit all the way round.

“We are short on bodies at the moment but I don’t look at any of the players who have come to the football club as a bad signing. They’re good players.

“Nobody can say the players who have stayed at the football club from last season – Ashmore, Wilson, Gozie Ugwu, Weston and Shields – are not bad players.

“We are short at the minute but we won’t feel sorry for ourselves. I won’t let them feel sorry for themselves and I will always be here.

“I won’t send my assistant out or say ‘we’ll avoid this today or we’ll avoid that.’

“What do Ebbsfleet fans want? They want wins but they want to see people battle.

“I saw that in the second half on Tuesday, not to the standard I’m happy with but going in the right direction.”

It’s been a tough summer for Hill and the season ahead promises to test him further.

But he said: “I will do my utmost, hopefully for a long period.

“We know what we’re trying to do and as long as up there (the owner) honours that part of it, we’ll see how we go. That governs me, one way or another.

“You’re always judged, as a manager, on the football pitch, on results and I respect that as well. That’s how football goes but we’re not the big sugar club any more.”

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