Experienced Ebbsfleet defender Chris Solly is no rush to hang up his boots.

The former Charlton right-back has been given a new lease of life in the middle of a three-man backline at Stonebridge Road.

He was an integral part of the squad that waltzed their way to the National League South title and is keen to carry on playing for as long he can.

“I’m really enjoying my coaching side of things but nothing beats playing,” said the 32-year-old, who played more than 300 times for Charlton after making his debut in the Championship at the end of the 2008/09 season.

“To have another successful season, play lots of games again, I love it. There’s no better buzz of playing and nothing compares to that feeling of three points.

“I broke through quite early as a kid, played a few games then and people think I’m older than I am.

“A few of the lads at Ebbsfleet think I’m the same age as the older ones here but I’ve got a couple of years on them still!”

Solly is working his way through his coaching badges. He’s not putting any timescales on future plans but is happy to carry on learning from working closely alongside Fleet boss Dennis Kutrieb.

“I didn’t really think about it when I was younger but four or five of the lads I was playing with at the time went on the B licence so I thought it was the perfect time to jump on with them,” said Solly.

“I did it and absolutely loved it, more than I ever thought I would to be honest.

“I went on to my A licence a couple of years later and I’m just completing that now. It’s definitely something I will look into when I stop playing, I’m not sure how long that will be but at the minute I feel fit, I love playing and I’ll go as long as I can.

“Like I’ve said all along, I love all aspects of the game. That side of things really interests me, coaching and being with the gaffer daily and seeing how he works. I’ve loved every second since I’ve come here.”

Seeing Kutrieb’s plans come to fruition from close quarters has underlined to Solly just how much there needs to be a method behind the club’s vision.

There’s been plenty of clubs that have splashed the cash in National League South in previous seasons, only to repeatedly fall short of reaching the play-offs or gaining promotion.

“You can give another team in the league more money than we have but it’s no guarantee they can get a manager to make them perform the way we do,” reflected Solly.

“That comes from the gaffer every day. He sets us up in a way he wants to play and we work hard on it every day.

“You can see that because on a Saturday everyone knows their role in the team, you almost know if I receive the ball in “high 8” where the full-back’s going to be, where my centre-forward is going to be, you know because we do it every day.

“Give money to someone, they can sign the best players, but if they don’t want to play with each other or don’t know how they want to play, then that’s going to be no good. That’s credit again to the gaffer and his staff.”