Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine believes the club will experience a “simpler” time in the transfer market this summer.

The Fleet are currently in talks with 12 of last season’s squad while just six were on extended deals that run into next year.

They’re making good progress on both retaining more of that squad and bringing new faces into Stonebridge Road.

“It's a busy time in the market,” said Mr Irvine, also the club’s director of football. “We’re being quite measured in the approach.

“It’s a simpler window for the club, and that sounds ridiculous, given we haven’t just come off a record-breaking dominant championship year.

“It can be a bit simpler now as all of those players have delivered that and had a year of reward, and deservedly so, as they all earned the right to participate in the National League.

“As I said before, that’s been a big learning curve for everyone. The opportunity now for Danny (Searle, manager) and the club is to mould a squad that he sees can improve our position in the National League.

“The goal will be to be mid-table or better and really push toward those play-offs. It’s a great opportunity for that and we’re well on track with a lot of discussions. There’s a number of players we’re re-engaging from last season and we had six on contract already.

“How many changes take place will be as a result of those negotiations but that’s going to be a watch this space right through June.”

Mr Irvine also added there’s been a positive response to the club’s season tickets.

Once again, the prices have been set very competitively by Ebbsfleet with adult season tickets at just £265 if purchased by May 24.

On the take-up so far, Mr Irvine said: “I’ve been pleasantly surprised. We’re close to 50 per cent on last season already sold.

“It’s very easy to poke fun at clubs who lose money year-on-year and are funded by wealthy individuals or backers but to be absolutely fair and clear, they’ve retained season tickets at really affordable numbers for a long time.

“Even through Covid, we did one year for free during that. I think it’s often overlooked but the first thing we thought of having had a good week in staying up, it wasn’t to rush and get the money in or anything like that, it was just to get an early bird reward out now for those people.

“We’re quite proud to offer that at a price that isn’t massively sky-rocketing and is still really affordable so that’s been pleasing.”

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