Ebbsfleet boss Steve Brown is not going to argue with the bookmakers’ suggestion that his side are favourites to win Conference South this season.

With four weeks until the campaign kicks off, the Fleet are 3/1 for the title – ahead of Sutton, Bromley and Havant & Waterlooville.

Brown’s side were also talked up last summer, despite a turbulent pre-season, and they went on to reach the play-off final.

He said: "We were many people’s favourites because of the suggestion we were going to splash the cash like there was no tomorrow.

"If we’re made favourites, we’re made favourites. My expectation is that we’ll be competitive this year.

"People tried to heap different kinds of pressure on us across the season. A lot of things were spoken about and written in the press, that had no factual basis at all, and it happened on several occasions.

"I tried to affect the lies that were said, by coming out with the truth, but nobody gave a damn.

"I just want us to be the best we can be."

Ebbsfleet’s first pre-season friendly is away to VCD Athletic on Saturday.