Ebbsfleet are sending midfielder Stacy Long out on loan to Skrill South rivals Eastbourne Borough.

The 29-year-old has been a peripheral figure at Stonebridge Road this season, starting only seven games under manager Steve Brown.

Long was part of Ebbsfleet's FA Trophy-winning side in 2008 and he went on to play for Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon in the Football League before rejoining the north Kent club in the summer.

But he's spent most of this season sitting on the bench and wasn't involved at all at Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday or at Farnborough on Tuesday.

Brown said: "He's going to go on loan for a month. It's more for Stacy to get games under his belt.

"We had the same situation with Tom Phipp earlier in the season.

"It's not a situation either party likes. Stacy doesn't like it and Tom doesn't like it.

"I don’t like to have players in that situation and I’ve done my utmost to help those guys. I haven’t turned my back on them and said 'your careers aren’t here at Ebbsfleet', I’ve said 'the choice will always be yours' and I’ll do anything in my power to help those guys.

"As a manager, I see things and do things that I think are best."

Long could make his Eastbourne debut against Basingstoke on Saturday.

See Thursday's Gravesend Messenger for more on this story.