Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb has warned his players to stay at the club for the right reasons.

The Fleet manager hinted that some players want improved deals to remain at Stonebridge Road.

But Kutrieb believes that needs to be earned by success on the field, and after failing to win promotion from National League South this season there is little weight behind those holding out for better terms.

“No one is bigger than the club, not me or Damian [Irvine, chief executive],” said Kutrieb.

“What players in general need to understand is that we haven’t achieved anything. We played in the play-off final but we are in the same league again next season.

“No one is on a bad contract. They need to be aware it’s not about getting more money, first you need to deliver on the pitch. It may be a good season on paper but we failed and didn’t get promoted.

“If they’d got promoted then they deserve more but we need to look at who wants to stay for the right reasons.

“It’s an ongoing process. We don’t need to be concerned - I’ve had 45 players that are interested in coming to the club put in front of me this week alone.

“I don’t have to be concerned in any way. Yes, I want to keep as many as possible but it needs to be for the right reasons. I’m open-minded, if they all stay then that’s fine, if 10 stay then that’s fine as well.”

Fleet already have Rakish Bingham, Sido Jombati, Joe Martin and Craig Tanner under contract for next season.

But they are in talks or have made offers to 15 other players, including player-of-the-year Ben Chapman, keepers Harrison Firth and Chris Haigh, defenders Alex Finney, Sefa Kahraman and Chris Solly.

Midfielders Greg Cundle, Alfie Egan, Kieran Monlouis, Christian N’Guessan and Jack Paxman are all out of contract along with forwards Shaq Coulthirst, Dominic Poleon and Elliott Romain.

The Fleet have also made an offer to defender Franklin Domi, who spent the end of last season on loan from QPR but is now a free agent.

Ebbsfleet released Lee Martin, Adam Mekki, Will Wood, Michael West and Kresh Krasniqi while Tobi Adebayo-Rowling turned down a new contract to join National League Notts County on a two-year deal.

“I wanted to keep Tobi but he had a great offer from Notts County, maybe in the past Ebbsfleet would have paid silly money to keep him but that’s gone now,” said Kutrieb.

“You can see that we did something with Tobi. He was a very good National South player and I told him from the early stages that he can, and that he has to, improve. He improved a lot from last season into this season.

“Even if I don’t like it that he has gone, it’s an achievement for us as a big club like Notts County are interested in a player from us so we did something right.

“We haven’t already set a deadline so it’s an ongoing process and we’re talking on a daily basis almost. We are also a little old school, if a player says he will sign then I’m not concerned in my mind.

“Some players are on holiday or are going on holiday soon so it may take a little bit longer as our season went on two weeks longer than most.

“There’s no pressure on them from me. Some of them might be waiting to see if they can get an offer from the National League, that could be the case.”

Ebbsfleet are close to bringing new faces into the squad and Kutrieb’s ever-expanding knowledge of players in the English game means he knows exactly what he is looking for.

“I’m pretty relaxed as I can see how much quality is in the transfer market,” said the Fleet boss.

“Obviously, we have targets as we saw players over the whole season or players you know or see play against your side, and say that they can be a good fit in the team or can bring something different.

“There are an unbelievable number of agents and you get players that people tell you could be available if you are interested. I don’t know every player as I have only been here for two years but we are getting better and better.

“We know the players in National South and even in the National League we are getting better at knowing players there and who we’d like to have.

“There are a few close ones already, where we have done our due diligence. There’s a good mix, some players we have already targeted and are in chats with but we like to speak to everyone in person, to get a feel for their character and what they are about.”