Ebbsfleet are already planning for next season after setting what they believe will be a competitive budget.

Manager Garry Hill and managing director Dave Archer have agreed how they want to proceed within the Fleet’s financial restructure.

Hill wants six defenders, six midfielders and four strikers in his squad although there will be some flexibility.

Archer said: “The squad numbers in the business plan for next year and what Garry wants to work with are 18.

“We may also bring in one or two loanees and one or two of our talented academy lads that Danny Kedwell’s working closely with Garry on.

“Garry was very clear from day one the model he wants that structure to be and it’s 2-6-6-4.

“With the departures of Powell, McQueen, Coulson, Shields and Clark, we’ve reduced the squad to the correct numbers but that doesn’t mean it’s the correct format. The squad numbers are at the right level but perhaps not necessarily the squad Garry will start next season with.

“I firmly believe the budget (owner) Dr Abdulla has signed off will give us a competitive squad for next year and a squad to challenge for the play-offs at least.

“Garry is comfortable with the budget he’s been given for next year and the work is ongoing to achieve that in time for the first game of the season.”

Ebbsfleet train four days a week so is there scope to make savings by tweaking those arrangements next season?

“Training is something we can discuss,” said Archer. “We’re under contract at K Sports and it’s a good facility that Garry, Ian Hendon and the players are comfortable in.

“That contract extends for next year as well. We will look at that and see where Garry wants to go with his training regime.

“At the moment he’s comfortable with it but all areas of the club are being looked at. Nothing is off-limits.

“The club needs to look at its expenses in the depth that I am now and perhaps over previous years, there have been some excesses.

“My job is to ensure we don’t spend a penny more than we have to.”

Ensuring players and staff receive their wages on time is one of the challenges facing Archer.

He admitted: “There have been issues in the past but I’ve got assurances from the Doctor that the problem has now been overcome and we’ve got through probably the stickiest period.

“Hopefully we can move forward now because it’s something we can do without.

“I want to stress this (process) will take until the end of the season to complete.

“Dr Abdulla is aware of this and he realises the benefits we’re achieving today won’t actually be realised by him until the end of April at the earliest.

“He has a funding cycle that needs fulfilling each month but he can now see a pathway to an easing of that funding at the end of the season.”