Ebbsfleet close to re-signing duo

Daish is trying to put together almost an entirely new squad

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish says the club's owners are close to raising the £10,000 needed to re-sign midfielder Ricky Shakes and defender Dean Pooley.

Daish appealed to members of website MyFootballClub to help re-build his squad, after budget cuts left him with three only full-time professionals.

"We've got a good fan base and that's something that you can work with," Daish told BBC Radio Kent.

"It's working and getting the best out of it, that is the key."

He added: "They're all owners, if you like directors, and being a director is part of keeping the club afloat and keeping us a budget that is not only sustainable but can compete as well."

It's going to be hard to sign Ricky and Dean within our current weekly budget because it will leave us little to build the rest of the squad with

Liam Daish

Fleet accountant Graeme Swift estimated that a £10,000 injection would be needed (£230 a week) to give Daish boss a chance of re-signing the two players.

Daish told the club's website: "Ricky has great pace which we all saw trouble opposition defences, especially at the back-end of last season.

"And Dean is a versatile defender, with Football League experience. Both will add a great deal to what is going to be a very inexperienced Fleet squad this season.

"My concern is it's going to be hard to sign Ricky and Dean within our current weekly budget because it will leave us little to build the rest of the squad with."

Shakes, 24, scored four goals in 37 games for Fleet last season, while 23-year-old Pooley featured 17 times, scoring once.