Daish struggling to attract new players

Blue Square bet Premier side Ebbsfleet United may have comfortably avoided relegation last season, but manager Liam Daish has admitted that he is finding it hard to strengthen his depleted squad.

The Fleet finished 13 points clear of trouble on their return to the highest tier of non-league football, but have already lost the services of Ricky Shakes, who signed for fellow Blue Square Premier side Kidderminster this week, and striker Liam Enver-Marum currently on trail with League One outfit Stevenage.

Daish has been unable to replace the duo and believes the improvements being made by other Kent-based clubs, is making it harder to attract new players to Stonebridge Road.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent Daish said: “I've had targets, It's another thing trying to get them to sign for you. It's getting tough and it's quite competitive in this area now with Dartford and Dover making a push.”

Alongside the departure of Enver-Marum, the Ebbsfleet boss has had to contend with the loss of last season’s top scorer Callum Willock, who joined Nicky Forster at Blue Square South promotion chasers Dover.

The Stonebridge Road side took the decision to remain a part-time club following their promotion into the Blue Square Premier two seasons ago.

Daish acknowledges that interest from full-time clubs is inevitable and difficult for the player in question to turn down, the former Republic of Ireland international believes the transfer of Guyanan international Shakes highlights the main issues that part-time clubs have to deal with.

He continued: “Us being part-time, he [Shakes] was having to do something in between games, which didn't quite suit him.  I respect their decisions even though I was a bit frustrated.”

Despite losing the services of key players, Daish is still confident that he can build on last season’s efforts.

He added: “I've lost key players that are going to be difficult to replace but we'll make every effort to at least emulate what we did last year.”