New Ebbsfleet boss Josh Wright felt he owed it to the club’s supporters to take on the managerial role.

Wright took over when Harry Watling left by mutual consent after a run of just one win in 13 league games on Wednesday last week.

With the Fleet 11 points from National League safety as they approach the halfway mark of the season, Wright admitted the easy option would have been to say no.

“Of course, it would have been,” said Wright. “It would have been easy to say no and continue playing and sit underneath it, if you like.

“I feel like I owe it to the club, I owe it to the fans. The club have offered me this opportunity and there was no way at this stage, further down the season, that I was going to turn it down.

“It’s not so much as leave the club in the lurch as there’d be many people who would want it, but I feel that I’m the best one to take this club forward, to get something out of this group and get as many positives as I can out of the season, and see where that leave us.”

Wright had one game in caretaker charge in September against Aldershot when he visibly got more out of the players than the man he took over from - Danny Searle - or Watling.

At the time, Wright stated that he had no intention of going into management just yet but what’s happened in the last three months to change his mind?

“Each day and each week we get older and we get wiser, if you like,” explained Wright. “I enjoyed that night and doing it but I know I enjoyed playing - and I still did.

“Opportunities like this don’t always come around, it’s not always easy to evolve from being a player and going straight into management. It’s a club that I love, a club that’s very close to my heart and a fantastic opportunity. I do believe I can really be successful in time with it.

“I know it’s a massive challenge, let’s have no two ways about it, it’s a huge challenge ahead but it’s one that I still believe.

Read more: Wright ready to make the big calls

“I’ve got a good group of players, I’ve got an honest group - I’ve used these words all week - and as long as I get that from them then I can’t ask for any more. I love a challenge in life and it’s one that I’m ready to attack.”

The appointment with the club already staring relegation in the face after just one league win all campaign could be seen by many as a trial for next season. That’s not a view shared by Wright.

“I’ve been offered the job and I’ve taken the job, and that’s it,” stated the Fleet’s fourth permanent manager of the calendar year. “It’s my job, I’m the manager of Ebbsfleet United and I’ll be doing it for the foreseeable.

“Please God it lasts for a long time because I’d love it to, that’s my aim, to make it happen and show that I’ve improved, that I’m making a change and making the place better. That’s what I’ll continue to do.”

It does mean, however, that Wright has for the moment stopped playing.

His experience was a key component of the Fleet staying up last season but he’ll be lending his voice from the sidelines only for now.

“That’s why it was a bigger decision than most people would have thought because theoretically I’ve stopped playing to do this,” said Wright.

“I don’t need to hang my boots up right now. I’m the manager and that’s where I see myself going and that’s going to get my 100 per cent focus. That’s where I am now, I’m a manager and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Ebbsfleet are at home to Gateshead in the National League this Saturday.