Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish is starting planning for next season with a reduced playing budget.

Daish (pictured) signed a new two-year contract extension last week but says the club need careful planning and financial assistance in order to progress.

Daish’s deal is his longest ever in seven years at the club. The previous was for 18 months soon after MyFootballClub took over and he is ready for more tough challenges on and off the pitch.

He warned: "We need a plan and can’t continue hoping that we are going to survive.

"There is a lot of work to be done and things to address from last season, which was a bit precarious at times.

"We need a better infrastructure and to consider our status in a league where the majority of clubs are full-time and which is getting stronger, competitive and physical – a real men’s league. We also have no training ground."

He added: "We need help to ease the financial burden, whether it is 300-400 more through the gate or 500 new members but we can’t continue operating with a playing budget of £4,500-£5,000 a week.

"At the moment I am working with less than I had at the end of the season."

Daish has released defenders John Herd and Clint Easton, with more decisions on players pending.