Ebbsfleet midfielder Josh Wright wants to lead the club in the National League next season.

The 34-year-old is one of 12 players currently out of contract at Stonebridge Road but he’s not hiding the fact that he is keen to stay.

Captain Wright proved an inspirational leader in the second half of the campaign as the Fleet escaped relegation.

“I love the place and staying up really did mean the world to me,” said Wright. “I'm out of contract but I feel fit and strong.

“The numbers show that on the data and the stats, where there's no hiding nowadays. I missed one game this year through feeling really ill when I just couldn't get out of bed.

“Other than that I think I've played every single league game. It's not in my hands, it's in the club's hands and the gaffer (Danny Searle) and Damian (Irvine, chief executive).

“I think they know how much I enjoy it here, I hope the fans know that. If I can continue playing, then I'd love to be a football player at Ebbsfleet again next season.

“If I'm back I'd love to push this club onto the next level or really establish this team in the division and become a force.”

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Wright looks a natural leader on the pitch for the Fleet, taking on the captain’s armband for the second half of the season with Chris Solly restricted mainly to coaching duties.

Just like team-mate Mark Cousins, staying up was even better than winning National League South 12 months earlier for Wright.

“This season was a bigger achievement given where we were in January, and how difficult this division is,” stated Wright.

“The feeling felt better at Boreham Wood and I don't mean that in any disrespectful way to National League South or what we did last year because winning any league is one hell of an achievement - it's all season long and it takes some doing.

“But staying up means a lot, it's a big step in the right direction. Last season was a bit frustrating for me in missing those four months but when I played I felt that I had a big effect and was part of a title-winning squad.

“This season I've been out there a lot more, played a lot more minutes and had to dig in a lot more. I've had to show a different side of me, I feel proud of that and I hope the fans appreciate that.”

Ebbsfleet’s survival certainly produced plenty of emotion from Wright, who led the celebrations in front of nearly 700 travelling fans at Boreham Wood.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve, I'm that sort of person,” said Wright. “People say to me that I hold a lot in and don't show my emotions but I'm always riding it and feeling it.

“It's always in me and when I can let it out like I did at the end of that Boreham Wood game it was just a pure relief to come out of me. Other than my wife giving birth to my two boys there haven't been many better feelings than that day.

“I'm someone that carries a lot of emotion but doesn't always show it. I've held a lot in but everywhere I went for the 10 days before that all I heard was 'how have you found yourself in this situation?, I thought you were safe'.

“It was difficult and frustrating because in any other year you'd have been safe on the points we were on. It hurt a little bit but I couldn't let it get to me too much, I've tried to lead the team from the front at every opportunity this year so I had to stay cool and collected, and believe.

“I was quietly confident that we'd get the job done at Boreham Wood, the point at Halifax on the Tuesday night was a big point, psychologically.

“Anyone who knows what has been going on in the past few weeks knows that we deserved to stay up. I'm proud, happy and delighted, and just pleased for everyone associated with the football club.”