By Matthew Panting

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish has made his first major signings of the summer.

Former Fleet winger Ricky Shakes heads the list of signings, along with former Grays midfielder Ishmael Welsh.

Left-back Jordan Collins, formerly of Cambridge United, and ex-Southend forwards Jamie Forshaw and James Lindie complete the new faces, with Daish promising more deals will be completed by the weekend.

Daish, pictured, was particularly keen that the young trio of Collins, Forshaw and Lindie are given the full support of everyone at Stonebridge Road.

“I’m really pleased,” said Daish. “Everyone that has seen Jordan, Jamie and James has seen they’ve got potential.

“They are the right age for us and they tick all the right boxes. It’s going to be a tough year for them but I think they can bridge the gap.”

Daish is expected to conclude a deal with former Fleet defender Dean Pooley this week, and is believed to be keen on signing former Fisher and Grays midfielder Gavin Heero.

Striker Michael Gash finally completed his protracted move to Blue Square Premier rivals York for £55,000 last Friday.

Gash had been set to move to York in a double deal with Darius Charles earlier this summer, but the switch collapsed when the latter decided to stay with the Fleet.