Ebbsfleet United chief executive Damian Irvine insists the club’s long-term financial strategy remains unchanged despite a “disappointing” set of financial figures.

The Fleet’s recently released financial figures, for the year ending May 30, 2022, show that once interest, depreciation and amortisation are taken into account, the loss before taxation was £1,790,700. The previous 12 months saw a loss of £1,321,818, so the figures go against Irvine’s hopes of year-on-year reductions in the club’s losses.

Despite the increased loss, the Fleet are still hopeful that the long-term trend will continue to see the size of their losses decrease.

They also have ambitious plans to redevelop their Stonebridge Road home and surrounding area which will vastly change the club’s financial outlook.

“For the year ending May (2022), we do show a loss of £1.7m - that’s off the back of a very difficult time in the post-Covid period, which also affects this year,” said Irvine.

“It’s disappointing not to be able to show a continued reduction to the losses. However, the strategy remains the same and continues to be successful in overall reducing losses.

“We would like to thank all our supporters for your investment in the club - in season ticket and retail purchases and ongoing support of the Fleet.

“It remains a fact that to perform at the levels supporters would like to and to match the ambition of where this club should be playing in our view, that we continue to rely on Dr Abdulla and his family.

“Over time, our main strategy is to continue to reduce that reliance to a more sustainable model which we work hard on every day.

“Our property plans and strategy are designed to negate that reliance totally and on that front, we also continue to work hard to get those approvals in place.”

The figures cover the 2021/22 campaign which started with a big home win over Tonbridge in August and ended in play-off final heartache at Dorking Wanderers the following May.

Crowds were back with income from match receipts and related football activities coming in at nearly £400,000. Government grants fell to £270,641 from the previous year’s figure of £474,403.

But the big difference was in the club’s staffing levels which saw the average number of persons employed by the company during the year increase to 50 from 36 in the previous 12 months. That meant wages and salaries increased from £1,111,803 to £1,489,556.

The club’s total losses now exceed £18million while loans due now total just over £5million, including a Sport England Winter survival fund loan of £346,000 which is repayable over 20 years with a four-year capital and interest repayment holiday with a two per cent per annum interest charge.