Ebbsfleet United can announce this afternoon that three players from the 2013-14 squad have not had their contracts renewed.

Club skipper Paul Lorraine, as well-documented in the local media, has departed as his work commitments have meant he is unable to fit in with the Fleet’s new training regime from next season.

Also leaving Stonebridge Road are out-of-contract pair Stacy Long and Osei Sankofa. FA Trophy winner Long arrived from AFC Wimbledon for his second spell during the previous close season while Sankofa joined after a spell at Hayes & Yeading and played a major part in the club’s play-off push, cementing a place in the centre of defence.

Paul Lorraine totalled more than 160 appearances in his four-year spell, which included captaining the side to victory in the 2010-11 promotion final. Long’s statistics are similar, with upwards of 150 appearances by him in a Fleet shirt since first signing in the summer of 2006. Sankofa, meanwhile, made 38 appearances in all during 2013-14. All three players depart with the very best of wishes from all at Ebbsfleet United, having been fine servants of the club. We would like to wish them the very best in wherever their careers take them next.

Talks are meanwhile ongoing with other members of the Fleet squad as well as potential transfer targets as manager Steve Brown continues to shape his squad for the forthcoming season’s assault on Conference South.