EBBSFLEET UNITED supporters will be able to vote on team affairs after fans' community website MyFootballClub agreed a deal to take over the Blue Square Premier club.

Twenty thousand MyFootballClub members have each paid £35 each to provide a £700,000 takeover pot and they will all own an equal share in the club.

Members will be able to vote on transfers as well as player selection and all major decisions.

Ebbsfleet chairman Jason Botley said: "We are united in believing this is a great opportunity. This extra finance and support will enable our club to progress."

The deal is expected to go through in a few weeks after a due diligence process. The website will purchase a 51 per cent controlling stake and will also have an option to buy the club outright in the future.

After the takeover goes through the current board will stay in place along with manager Liam Daish, although his title will change to head coach.

Daish said everyone had worked hard to get the club into the top half of the Conference, but they all agreed the club needed something extra to take it to the next step.

He said: "As a football fan, I think the MyFootballClub idea is fantastic. And as the coach, I look forward to the challenge of working with thousands of members to produce a winning team. Alan Kimble and myself are 100% committed to making this work.”

He added: "Picking eleven players and formations isn’t a precise science, and luck often plays its part. I believe in a strong dressing room and 11 who want to perform are just as important. And I’ll continue to make sure that happens.

"During and after matches, Ebbsfleet supporters often give me their opinion on which players should or shouldn’t start games. Now they can have their say.

"My job won't change that much. As a club, we'll select an eleven and formation together. But just as before, what goes on at the training ground, in the dressing room on matchday is down to me.

"It’s the supporters money that will finances this club, pays mine and the players’ wages. So there’s a good argument for them having a say in what players they want to see."

Will Brooks, of MyFootballClub, said they approached nine football clubs and they believe that Ebbsfleet United is the perfect choice.

"We hope that MyFootballClub members and Ebbsfleet United supporters will join forces and make the football club more sustainable and successful,” he said.

Dan Jones, Partner at Deloitte and Editor of the Annual Review of Football Finance described MyFootballClub ownership model is an innovative way of funding a lower league club.

"Reports of having raised over £700,000 in 11 weeks suggests it is viable too," he said.

"The Sports Business Group at Deloitte has been following its progress with interest, and we're now looking forward to offering our experience in football finance to assist with advice and guidance during the due diligence process.”