Danny Kedwell has explained why he quit Gillingham to sign for Ebbsfleet United.

The striker, a childhood Gills fan, spent more than three seasons at Priestfield, scoring 45 goals in 136 appearances.

But he wasn't a regular starter under Peter Taylor this season and when the Fleet - chasing promotion in Vanarama Conference South - came calling, Kedwell was keen to listen.

He said: "It was just not playing and things like that.

"I wasn’t guaranteed to be starting every week so I had to make a decision. I wasn’t going to get game time and at this stage of my career, I need to play games.

"It was a hard decision because of how much I support the club. I love the club so much, so it was really hard for me.

"I’m gutted – it was emotional for me walking out of the club this morning – but I’ve got to move on.

"I appreciate them telling me the situation – because other players don’t get told and they just sit there. The chairman said ‘you deserve to be told the truth’.

"I could have just sat there and picked up my money but I’m not that sort of person. I support the club and I want them to do well but Ebbsfleet came in for me and there is big potential there to be up there in the Football League. I was offered a part in that.

"I was involved in that sort of stuff with Wimbledon – we started in Conference South and got them into the Football League. There is no better buzz than doing that."

Gills chairman Paul Scally on why he let Kedwell leave