Ebbsfleet boss Daryl McMahon has already rejected moves this summer for League 1 players who wanted to come to Stonebridge Road for one final pay day.

McMahon insists he won’t splash out on big names as he bids to break Fleet’s ‘gravy train’ culture and stamp his own philosophy on the National League South club.

External perceptions of Ebbsfleet’s transfer policy, created by the squad overhaul last season, have dominated many of McMahon’s player talks since he succeeded Jamie Day as manager.

He said: "I’ve had to walk away from a few deals because of it. I’m not willing to pay that sort of money.

"You know what football’s like, you hear reports of what people are earning at their club and people get carried away. But I’m not going to pay silly money – it’s not my style.

"There are League 1 players who want to come here and it’s for one reason – money.

"There’s been a gravy train mentality and it stops now. You’ve got to come here to work hard and earn your money.

"I’m honest with people and only want players to come for the right reasons. Yes, we all need to get paid, it’s part of life but getting the right sort of person is important.

"They need to have the right work ethic and the right mentality and I need to know they’re going to be a team player."

Read the full story in the Gravesend Messenger.