Garry Hill insists Ebbsfleet will hold their nerve in the transfer market as the National League kick-off approaches.

Fleet have 10 players signed up with just over three weeks until their first game at home to FC Halifax Town.

Hill wants to work with a squad of 18 but he won't start handing out contracts just to bring the numbers up.

He said: "I'm talking to players but it's always a numbers game.

"There are three weeks to go but I'm pretty confident we'll have a couple before the weekend. If we don't, I won't panic over it - I just can't do it.

"It's not what it was in respect of finance, even though we're a lot better than we were seven or eight months ago. We've done really well to pull a lot of things round.

"It's been awkward for everybody, tough, but we're regrouping. We're a little bit behind time but you need stability and you need a structure where we've got to be patient at the moment."

Hill's on the phone constantly trying to agree deals with players in a challenging market.

But he said: "I don't like to talk about it too much otherwise people think you're making excuses if you have a bad season.

"Don't forget we had the sale window in May so I left it completely open. Automatically you're five weeks behind and then, in the last 10 days of June, we lost Corey Whitely and Ebou Adams - which I'm pleased about for those lads.

"What I'm saying is that we really started in July. We didn't have that many left at the football club, as we know, but we're being patient and working hard.

"You've got a nucleus of players there and the backline at the club will be strong. It will need to be but we will be very strong.

"We want to add from midfield and we want to add up top, there's no secret about that, but it doesn't mean that if you're in a position to get the first player in the market that you've got the best one.

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"We will go into the loan market for players from League clubs but whether they're loan players or whether they're players who commit themselves to the club full-time, we are desperate to find the right players at the right money. We are a different club now.

"I do believe we're going the right way as a football club and that's the most important thing for me as a manager. I want to manage a football club where there's stability and a structure in place - whatever the outcome is in the long term.

"I'd like to say I've played my part in helping the football club go in the right direction."

Ebbsfleet, who drew 1-1 at Dartford on Tuesday, host Tottenham U23 on Saturday and Charlton on Tuesday.