Ebbsfleet United is today pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Lovell as the club’s first director of football.

Steve arrives at the Kuflink Stadium with a wealth of experience, having most recently spent two years at the helm of Gillingham in League One.

Steve’s appointment does not affect the role of first-team manager Kevin Watson, who will continue to be in charge of all first-team affairs and remain wholly responsible for team selection.

This is not, of course, the 59-year-old former Welsh international’s first taste of life at the Fleet, with Steve having been player-manager at the club from 1996-97. Aside from his time with both the Fleet and a long association with Gillingham, Steve possesses huge knowledge of the game from a 20-year playing career plus many years in coaching and management capacities at Charlton Athletic, Hastings United, Sittingbourne, Ashford Town and Bromley.

The director of football role at the Fleet will include responsibility for player recruitment, with Steve helping manager Kevin Watson identify key targets as the Fleet aim to stay in the National League in the short-term and continue the growth of the club in the longer term.

Steve will be at the Kuflink Stadium for the New Year’s Day game v Dagenham & Redbridge and Ebbsfleet United CEO Dave Archer said, “Steve Lovell has many years of experience in both the EFL and non-league, and his role in overseeing our player recruitment strategy is intended to complement Kevin’s excellent efforts on the pitch since his appointment.

“Steve has a wide knowledge of the game and the ins and outs behind-the-scenes; his expertise will give Kevin and the club the best chance of staying in the division, progressing beyond the end of this season, and to take Ebbsfleet United to the position we want to be in the years ahead.

“All of us at the Fleet welcome Steve to the staff and wish him the very best of luck in this new role.”