Ebbsfleet United may be the bookmakers’ favourites to win National League South but manager Daryl McMahon takes a different view.

In a season when the title race could be wide open, Fleet are as short at 3/1 to go up automatically in April.

But 31-year-old McMahon, in his first management job, insists the spotlight shouldn’t shine exclusively on Stonebridge Road.

He said: "There are six clubs that have got good sides this year, that have spent money as well.

"It’s not only us in this league although people only want to talk about us.

"It’ll be difficult because we finished eighth last year and those teams above us have strengthened again. We’ve got a lot of work to do to catch up and go past those teams but we’ll be trying to do that."

McMahon knows exactly why Kuwaiti-owned Fleet do attract so much publicity though.

He said: "We’ve got a rich owner and there’s a big project happening in Gravesend with everything, not just the football club.

"It’s an interesting story, I suppose but you play football games on a pitch, 11 v 11 and other sides have got good players as well in their team, so it’ll be difficult.

"A lot of teams are going for it this season. A lot of teams have brought in some good players and it’s going to be difficult but hopefully we’ll be there or thereabouts.

"We are working hard and our performances, so far, have been decent."

Read the full story in the Gravesend Messenger.