Our goal in the long term is to make sure that we make positive strides forward strengthening the club on and off the field to make Ebbsfleet a club the supporters and the community can be proud of and want to be a part of.

I have been delighted with the players throughout pre-season and each and every player has attacked the training and the games with a first-class attitude.

Behind the scenes we have seen an increase in sponsorship, the stadium has seen a substantial renovation and on the field we have assembled a squad of players that I hope will play with commitment and passion for this football club. The players and all the staff are excited by the challenge ahead and as a group we all feel that success is within our capabilities.

I have been delighted with the players throughout pre-season and each and every player has attacked the training and the games with a first-class attitude. Results in pre-season mean very little but ask any manager or player whether they like losing and the answer will invariably be no. The goal has to be and will always be to get every player through pre-season fit and healthy with players showing signs of understanding their roles and responsibilities and an increase in performance. And with that in mind pre-season has been very successful.

I must congratulate Michael Thalassitis who was selected to play for Cyprus Under 21s against Romania this week. Michael played and scored in a hard-fought victory and fingers crossed he has returned injury free and full of confidence.

At the time of writing these notes Ben May is the only injury doubt and I have to assume not available for selection. Ben has suffered a trapped nerve in his lower back which has seen him in some discomfort. Sometimes injuries like Ben’s can clear up overnight with no explanation and other times it can linger on for weeks. Let’s hope it’s the former and Ben is back training soon.

I have managed to strengthen the squad this week with the signings of Alex Osborn on a three-month youth loan from Dagenham and Chris Sessegnon joins us as a free agent after having his contract terminated by Dover. Both players are young, athletic, willing to learn and hungry to succeed in their careers so on behalf of everyone at Ebbsfleet, I welcome them to the club.

The support during pre-season has been outstanding. Never underestimate the part that you can play on the terraces and please get behind the players as you have been doing. It really does make a huge difference.

Be loud, be proud but most of all be positive.