Experienced midfielder Michael Timlin is to leave Ebbsfleet United, saying he is moving on to take what he describes as “the only option that would have seen me leave Ebbsfleet".

The former Stevenage man, 35, insists he would have agreed fresh terms with Fleet but for another opportunity he simply couldn’t refuse.

It brings to an end an eventful six-month spell at Ebbsfleet for Timlin who signed in January but didn’t make his debut for a month due to an unpaid tax bill.

Timlin told the club website he had not taken the decision to leave Fleet, who will begin their 2020/21 season in National League South after relegation last season, lightly.

He said: "It was an extremely hard decision and I want to make absolutely clear I don’t say that lightly.

"I don’t want people to think I’m leaving for any reason other than it’s a personal opportunity for me, (there was) an option that was on the table for about a year but, when I was playing at a higher level, I didn’t think I’d get it.

"It’s not something I can say too much about at the moment but it involves linking up with someone I’ve known since I was young and, were it not for this, I’d have been an Ebbsfleet player.

"I thought this was a club I’d found where I could progress as a player and move into coaching.

"The foundations are really being put in place here and I really wanted to be part of that.

"Knowing the people at the club, all those behind the scenes from Damian (Irvine, chief executive) to Peter and Maggie Danzey (club secretary and kit manager respectively), I felt I could grow into the club and be part of it, even though I was only here for a couple of months.

"It’s not a case that Ebbsfleet haven’t given me what I needed because they gave me exactly what I was looking for.

"This move is purely down to a personal situation and I feel I would have regretted not taking the opportunity in front of me and I couldn’t walk away from that.

"But at the same time, I am disappointed not to be able to develop myself at Ebbsfleet."

While Timlin won’t now be a part of any resurgence, he has backed Fleet to enjoy success under their new German boss Dennis Kutrieb.

He said: "I think Dennis Kutrieb will do really well.

"He’s a shrewd guy, he’s got good ideas and that’s another disappointing thing for me because it would have been nice to learn from a coach coming from abroad. I think Ebbsfleet are in great hands.

"I’ve had such good conversations with the club over the past few months.

"I can’t thank Damian Irvine enough, (director of football) Steve Lovell, (Fleet's former manager) Kevin Watson for bringing me in and (chairman) Dr Abdulla, too, who has brought about the change in the club and brought me here as well.

"Ebbsfleet fans should be confident and looking forward to what the future holds with all this in place."

Timlin also wished the club all the best for the future.

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