*BS*Latest news from the clubs in Blue Square Bet South…*BF*
Including Liam Daish’s promotion ambition at Ebbsfleet, financial concern at Bromley and an ex-Dover player joining Bishop’s Stortford.
*BS*Ebbsfleet United*BF*
Fleet boss Liam Daish is gunning for promotion with his young side, put together under difficult circumstances in the summer.
Ebbsfleet became a part-time club again after relegation from the Premier division but they have settled well despite off the pitch concerns around the influence of the myfootballclub ownership.
Daish told the Gravesend Reporter: “There were always doubts because of the position the club was in, with a lot of questions that needed answering.
“It was a difficult period with a lot of uncertainty. But, we made it into pre-season and got the players to make a squad to work with.”
Ebbsfleet are in good form and have put themselves in contention for promotion in their first season of Blue Square Bet South football.
Daish added: “Of course promotion is the priority – from the first day of the season it’s always a priority. The players have handled themselves very well.
“We’ve tried to keep a professional, full-time mentality and discipline around the side which has helped. Paul Lorraine has been very good, as have a number in the spine of the side, from Preston Edwards through to Calum Willock.
“The young lads have come through well in Michael West and Tom Phipp. They have responded to the challenge and we’re pleased, but there is a long way to go yet.”
*Ppic1**BS*Bishop’s Stortford*BF*
Bishop’s Stortford boss Mark Simpson has brought in former Whites striker Walid Matata.
The pacey forward played for Athletic under Clive Walker in the club’s Ryman South days. He has since turned out for the likes of Sutton United, Harrow Borough, Billericay Town and Enfield.
Also joining the club is Callum McNaughton, on loan from West Ham. The centre back will provide some much needed quality to Stortford’s porous defence, as Simpson tries to keep his side in play-off contention.
However, the club has lost talented winger Chris Arthur to Football League club Rotherham United. The 20 year-old joined Stortford from QPR but has signed a two-month contract with the Millers after a successful trial.
*BS*Bromley FC*BF*
Following the postponed fixture between Bromley and Dover on Boxing Day, club owner Jeremy Dolke issued an honest statement to supporters regarding the increasingly difficult financial situation at the club.
Numerous postponements due to the bad weather has hit the London club hard and Dolke is calling on supporters to help raise funds through off the field events.
He told supporters: “Losing our Boxing Day game was a massive blow to the Club, it would have seen one of our biggest crowds of the season. Financially this, combined with significant decreases in other revenue streams due to the terrible weather, has almost crippled the Club.
“We started this season with a contingency fund in place to cover six weeks wages. Early exits in cup competitions left us unable to add to this pot of money and it has now almost exhausted.
“We have a great group of lads at the Club but at this time of year I cannot honestly ask them to stay with us without being paid when they could be earning money elsewhere. I have a family so I know that it would not just be the players themselves who would be affected.
“As many of you know, we suffered a burglary at the beginning of the month. Extensive damage was done to both The Sports Bar and The Glemnet Suite as well as other parts of the ground and assorted items were stolen. Insurance claims are ongoing but in the meantime I have had to reach into my own pocket to pay for repairs, replacements, etc and so I cannot do so again to maintain the playing budget.
*Lpic2*”What the Club desperately needs is a small injunction of funds between now and the end of the year. I am therefore making a plea to all Bromley supporters for any fundraising suggestions that they may have.
“We do not need tens of thousands of pounds, we just need enough to see us through the next month or so without losing the great squad that we have worked so hard to assemble.”
Following this statement, Bromley quickly rearranged a previously postponed match at home to Maidenhead United for Thursday 30th December.
The inform Magpies won the game 2-0, Bromley’s first defeat at Hayes Lane this season. However, a good attendance of 535 has given the club a financial boost before their next home game against Bishop’s Stortford on Monday 3rd January.
*BS*Bromley are the visitors to Perrys Crabble on Saturday 1st January. Kick-off at 3.00pm.*BF*