Ron Hillyard is back as Ebbsfleet’s goalkeeping coach.

The Gillingham legend looked to have left Stonebridge Road for good as part of the staff clearout which followed the departure of manager Liam Daish in May.

Hillyard exited the club alongside assistant manager Paul McCarthy, as Daish’s successor, Steve Brown, set about building a new coaching team.

That included Brown’s assistant Steve Gritt and then first-team coach David Jupp, but the goalkeeping coach vacancy remained unfilled.

And this week Brown confirmed Hillyard would return to work with Fleet keepers Preston Edwards and Brandon Hall in 2013-14.

He said: “Myself, Steve and Dave will never pretend we’re something we’re not – and we’re not goalkeeping coaches."

Brown admitted that Hillyard’s initial departure, following the club takeover by KEH Sports, could have been handled better.

He said: “Obviously, when there’s a takeover, there’s always going to be little bits and pieces that don’t go as well as they should. It’s taken a few meetings and some conversations with Ron to get him on board, but I’m delighted to have finally got him to sign that contract."