Ebbsfleet manager Danny Searle believes his squad is in a stronger position at the start of this season than the one that finished the previous campaign.

The Fleet avoided relegation from the National League courtesy of a goalless final-day draw at Boreham Wood in April that sent the hosts down instead.

It's been a summer of change at Stonebridge Road with keeper Dylan Berry the 11th new signing as Searle stamps his authority on the squad having miraculously kept the Fleet up after arriving in February.

"I believe so, obviously time will tell," said Searle, when asked about improving his squad. "If you look at the strength of the bench and competition for places, even as an overview of the dressing room in its dynamic, it feels like a stronger dressing room.

"That's no disrespect to the boys that have left the club as they all played their part last year in keeping us up but you've got different personalities and characters. We think we've made it a better and stronger dressing room."

Searle wanted to bring down the squad size and while two of the current 24 playing staff are due to depart on loan, there's been 11 in and 13 out since a ball was last kicked in anger.

The Fleet boss has got plenty of options and experience to call upon, especially with a change in rules meaning National League teams can now use five substitutes from a nominated seven this season.

"That's why the recruitment was what it was," said Searle, whose side start their season with the longest trip of the campaign to Gateshead on Saturday. "We can change half the outfield team and what we've tried to do is that if we're bringing on X, then it's different to Y.

"Last year I felt at times we were making like-for-like changes as they were similar profiles, similar styles of play and types of people. Now, if we want to change the midfield up, we can change the complete dynamic of the midfield.

"We can change the complete dynamic of the forward line or the back three or four, and wing-backs. I'm all for the five from seven as it gives you an opportunity to really change the game."

It means there will still be players left out but Searle reiterated that he likes to keep a settled line-up where possible.

"I'm not one for squad rotation, I'm not big on that," added the Fleet boss. "I like consistency and (you saw that in) the teams we generally put out for the 15 games at the end of last season.

"But there are games and teams that we play against where actually certain players will suit those games and we believe we've got those in the building now. There are different types of players in our midfield now, with different types of attributes.

"For me, it's about headaches - but good headaches. I want people at it and i want them in training saying 'pick me'. There will be days when people might not be too happy with me as I've left them out but that's the game and where the skillset of the staff and myself and the leaders in the group get around those players.

"The first 60-70 minutes against Crawley on Saturday was excellent but people were coming off the bench saying I want to play against Gateshead so we'll see what that produces once the team sheet goes in at two o'clock."

Searle's not one to talk about expectations or make wild public statements on their ambitions. His answers were always shorter about points target in a relegation battle and he's keeping his cards close to his chest this time around, too.

"The biggest target we've got is to get to that safety number of points as quickly as we can and then see what happens."

But pre-season is done and dusted and the first test of Searle's new-look squad will be at a Gateshead side who finished in the play-off places last season.

Despite the injuries to Rakish Bingham and Nathan Odokonyero leaving them light in attacking areas, has everything gone to plan in pre-season?

"Ask me at five o'clock on Saturday because if we go up there and are horrendous then we'll be questioning whether we've done the right things or not," responded Searle.

"It's been a good process, we've meticulously picked out what we wanted to do the whole of pre-season and give or take a few little things we've pretty much stuck to everything we've wanted to do and we're happy with that.

"The bottom line is the players are in a good place physically and mentally, and from a team perspective we're all excited now. The off-season seemed to be the longest off-season ever, and pre-season seemed to be the longest pre-season ever, we just want to play now.

"I can't wait to get started. It's real football now."