Ebbsfleet's potential for more success this season helped persuade Jack Payne to sign.

The former Gills and Peterborough midfielder was surprisingly released by Blackpool after playing a major role in their promotion to League 1 last season.

But he didn't let that disappointment linger, instead agreeing to join National League newcomers Fleet after a couple of meetings with boss Daryl McMahon.

Payne, 25, said: "I’ve had a chat with Daryl a few times, at the end of last season and obviously this season.

"He’s told me about the club and the vision of the club, where it wants to be and I feel like I can go in there and help them go places.

"You can tell the club’s going places, with the stadium and the training ground. Everything at the club is run like a Football League club."

Payne made 44 appearances for Blackpool last season and started the League 2 play-off final at Wembley as the Tangerines beat Exeter 2-1 to go up.

He said: "I was half thinking I was going to be there next season but obviously the manager (Gary Bowyer) has made his decision and I respect that.

"You have to move on to a new challenge.

"We had a few bits and pieces, quite a few phone calls to the agent but this is a club that’s going somewhere. I’d rather be at a club that’s got a chance of being successful than being with someone that’s not going to be going forward.

"It was the draw of the club. I could see how far they’ve come. I’ve followed them because I’m local and seeing how far they’ve come… When the opportunity came to join, it was a good one.

"The way Daryl wants to play suits me. I know Danny Kedwell really well, I’m good friends with him from my time at Gillingham and he’s been telling me for the last couple of years that the club’s going places and the gaffer’s good.

Payne, who played more than 100 times for the Gills, was born in Gravesend and his parents live in Cliffe so this move represents something of a homecoming after a year in the north-west.

He said: "I went to Leyton Orient on loan (from Peterborough in 2015-16) and things didn’t quite work out so I had to go out and play and I did. I played 44 games and we got promoted so it was a successful season for me and the club.

"That’s what I’m hoping for again this year, I think there can be success at the club.

"I don’t want to put too much pressure on everyone and say we’re going to win the league. We know and the club, as a whole, know they want success this year but there’s no pressure on us labelling it, saying we need to do this or that.

"The gaffer knows what he wants to do with the squad and hopefully, at the end of the season, we’ll be celebrating."