Ebbsfleet United have today parted company with manager Garry Hill following Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat at home to Torquay United.

The result left Fleet two points adrift at the bottom of the National League table and six from safety. Assistant manager Kevin Watson has been placed in charge of first-team affairs and will take charge of the side for this Saturday’s home match versus Maidenhead United.

The club wishes to place on record its very great thanks to Garry Hill who has worked tirelessly to improve the team’s situation this season. He was appointed last November and guided the club from 16th to eighth place, while helping oversee the financial restructuring necessary to the club’s long-term future.

We all regret that positive results this season have not been forthcoming and the reluctant decision to seek a new direction has been made with the club’s National League preservation uppermost in our minds.

Managing director Dave Archer said, “I worked very closely with Garry over the past year and I know he put his heart and soul into the job he was tasked with. I have come to regard him as a close friend and I wish him all the very best for the future.”

The club will make further comment about the future managerial direction when appropriate and when the next steps have been decided upon.