Departing goalkeeper Preston Edwards insists there are no hard feelings on his part after being told he is not in Ebbsfleet manager Daryl McMahon's plans.

After five years as a Fleet player, Edwards has joined Boreham Wood on a season-long loan.

Brandon Hall will be Ebbsfleet's No.1 this season and McMahon has signed former Spurs keeper Jon Miles as back-up, having told Edwards he could leave.

Edwards said: "I respected his decision. I knew that at one time during my career, a manager was not going to fancy me to be his first choice. He was being honest and I have to move on.

"It’s part of football and I’m looking forward to the next challenge.

"Since March, when (McMahon's predecessor) Jamie Day told me I could find a new club, I’ve been looking elsewhere. A few things in the summer have collapsed for one reason or another but when the opportunity at Boreham Wood came up, I couldn’t refuse it.

"I wasn’t guaranteed first-team football at Ebbsfleet so I had to look elsewhere."

Edwards made 201 appearances for the Fleet following his move from Grays Athletic in 2010.

But he admitted last season was difficult after a shoulder injury and loss of form saw him start just 15 league games.

Edwards said: "Last year I wasn’t particularly happy in terms of not playing, my injury and everything that was going on. It just didn’t feel the same.

"I’m very proud of making over 200 appearances for Ebbsfleet. It’s been a great club for me for five years.

"I didn’t have the best year at Grays so for them to give me the opportunity to play and get promotion (in 2010/11), it was a great opportunity for me and I’m very grateful to Ebbsfleet for giving me that chance."

Read our big interview with Preston Edwards, in full, in Thursday's Gravesend Messenger.