GOSPORT BOROUGH boss Alex Pike says the club have not “cashed in” on Ebbsfleet bound goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore because of their recent financial worries.
National League South Boro have an unpaid tax bill looming over them, players are behind on wages and they are currently under a transfer embargo.
Ashmore, 26, is widely regarded as one of the best keepers outside the Football League and won Gosport’s player of the year three times during his five year spell at the club.
However, Pike says he couldn’t hold back the former Havant & Waterlooville stopper and he has subsequently joined their rivals and league leaders Ebbsfleet for an undisclosed fee.
Pike told Gosport’s website: “Once Nathan heard of Ebbsfleet’s interest in him, he made it clear to me he would like to go there and advance his career.
“I’ve always said that I’m happy for players to use Gosport Borough as a stepping stone to the professional game. That’s what Nathan’s done and we all know he is good enough to play in the Football League.
“I expect Ebbsfleet to be promoted into the National League and beyond and it’s conceivable that he will be playing with them in the Football League in a year or two.
“They’ve shown interest in him for a while and he’s decided to make the move. I know our supporters will see this as us cashing in, but that’s simply not the case.
“Nathan has always said he would only leave the club to go to a professional full time club when the opportunity arises and that time has come.”
For Fleet, they have added another goalkeeping option to their ranks alongside current young stopper Brandon Hall
They have the second best defensive record in the National League South but boss Daryl McMahon said he couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to bring Ashmore to Stonebridge Road.
“Nathan’s obviously a top keeper, that much is clear to any supporter at this level,” McMahon told FleetOnline. “He’s someone I’m looking forward to working with and he wants to play, he hasn’t come here to sit around.
“The opportunity to sign Nathan presented itself suddenly even though we’ve looked at him before. It’s an opportunity for me to strengthen a position with a fantastic player to try to help us win the league.
“Brandon Hall has been terrific this year, he’s a young goalkeeper and he’s learning all the time. Bringing Nathan in is nothing against Brandon who’s still got a big future at this club and in the game. I still believe he’s going to be a Football League goalkeeper.”
