Stefan Payne has apologised to his team-mates for the red card that has ruled him out of key games in Ebbsfleet’s relegation battle.

The former Gillingham forward was shown a straight red card for a two-footed tackle on Nicky Simons during Fleet’s 3-1 defeat at Braintree on Easter Monday.

He missed Fleet's long trip to Barrow on Wednesday and will also miss the home match against Nuneaton on Saturday and Tuesday’s visit to Hyde.

Fleet assistant manager Paul McCarthy said: "It was a rush of blood from Stefan and he knows it was a silly thing to do.

"He was frustrated because he wanted things to happen for us. And when things aren’t happening, it’s your natural instinct to grow frustrated.

"He went and saw the player to apologise. He apologised to his team-mates and the management.

"He’s done the manly thing and held his hands up. Not everyone would do that but he knew he’d done wrong and he quite rightly apologised."

Read more from Paul McCarthy in this week's Gravesend Messenger.