Fans’ favourite Michael West felt his face didn’t fit at Ebbsfleet after Daryl McMahon was appointed manager.

West, who came through Fleet’s youth system and made his first-team debut back in 2007, will leave the club for a second time when his contract expires on June 30.

The former Crewe player has battled serious injury since returning to Ebbsfleet in January 2014 although McMahon always backed West to come back stronger.

He said that "a fully-fit, fully-committed Michael West is one of the best players in the league" yet the 25-year-old didn’t start a league game under McMahon last season.

West said: "It’s a shame (to be leaving) because I’ve been there for a few years. I had a serious injury and came back from that but my face didn’t fit.

Knee ligament damage kept West sidelined for the 18 months which preceded McMahon taking over from Jamie Day at Stonebridge Road.

He said: "I had another operation (last summer) to clean up a bit of cartilage. I was out for two months with that and then I was all right.

"From the end of October, I was fine, fully fit. The gaffer said I was going to get a chance but it didn’t come.

"I kept asking to go on loan and eventually I was allowed to go. I spoke to Paul Lorraine at Whitehawk and it worked out because I did all right down there.

"You don’t want to go a whole season and not play, especially when you’ve had a serious injury and been out for 18 months. You need to get out and play some football.

"Confidence-wise, I didn’t have any so I needed to get out and feel like I was wanted.

"When you haven’t played for so long, of course you’re going to have doubts. You don’t know how you’re going to be.

"Thankfully, I went on loan for two months to Whitehawk and went from a relegation battle to nearly a promoted team."

West leaves the club with mixed feelings.

He said: "It’s sad because Ebbsfleet was my first proper men’s football club and they’ll always be in my heart – especially from the good times a few years ago.

"But you can’t live in the past, these things happen and it’s life.

"Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise and I’ll go somewhere, flourish again and you never know where I could be."