Deals for two new signings at Ebbsfleet United fell through on New Year's Eve.

Fleet boss Jamie Day was set to strengthen his squad ahead of the home game against Chelmsford on New Year's Day - but it didn't happen.

He said: "I thought we’d got two in yesterday (Wednesday) but they fell through at the last minute, which was disappointing because I think they would have been good signings.

"Sometimes the player has a rethink and doesn’t want to drop to the South. I’ve found that out as well. Some people look at where the club wants to go (and they like it) but unfortunately the level we’re at is a stumbling block."

He added: "There’s people we’re speaking to but there’s nothing I would say is 100% concrete yet.

"I think we’re going to have to wait until the window opens in the league above. Players that are available might want to see what else is out there.

"We’ve got a list. I don’t want to bring in 10 if we can’t get rid of one or two more. We need to make sure we’ve got the right blend and the right numbers.

"The only way we’re going to attract a better type of player is by getting results with the boys we’ve got. The boys we’ve got – I've said this in the dressing-room – are good enough to get in the play-offs if we start, mentally, being strong enough and being a bit nastier on the pitch."

At the same time as making new signings, Day is trying to whittle down his 28-man squad.

Chris Sessegnon has joined Sutton on loan until the end of the season but no-one else has left yet.

Day said: "The problem we’ve got is that we let three go in a week – Jordan Sanderson, Michael Corcoran and Sessegnon – and only one of them can find a club because of wages.

"That’s going to be an issue because we can’t carry 40 players. We can’t keep trying to sign players and then no-one leaves. We need to strengthen and we need to make sure we get the right balance, otherwise you can have a group of 30-odd players and 20 of them are unhappy every week because they’re not playing. That doesn’t set a good vibe in the dressing-room."

Sanderson has started just one game - in the Kent Senior Cup - since Steve Brown brought him to Ebbsfleet in August. The former Colchester player has already been loaned out to Lewes and Grays this season.

Corcoran, who joined the club in June 2013, has made 44 appearances for Fleet - including 27 starts.

Day said: "They’re available. We’d like to probably let them go on a free, if they can get a club that can afford to pay the wages they’re getting – or cover the wages they’re getting until the end of the season.

"If that’s a loan move, that’s great. If we are going to tell people they’re not available (to play for us), there’s no point bringing them back to put them on the bench and having them around on a matchday. There’s no value to that.

"They’re available and hopefully we can get them sorted out."