New Ebbsfleet boss Kevin Watson is a on a mission to avoid the National League drop after his appointment as the successor to Garry Hill.
Watson – who’d been in temporary charge since the sacking of Hill last month – was named as manager on Saturday after lifting them off the foot of the table and guiding Fleet into the first round of the FA Cup as caretaker.
The 45-year-old is setting his sights on survival after extending his side’s unbeaten run to five games following his side’s 2-2 draw at Stonebridge Road.
Front page action in tomorrow’s NLP! https://t.co/8cR5X1dmuG
— Ebbsfleet United FC (@EUFCofficial) November 2, 2019
Speaking to The Non-League Paper for Sunday’s edition, he said: “When I took over I only had improvement in the short-term in my sights and now I can look long-term.
“This is a big club in Non-League. I couldn’t be more delighted and everybody has given me their full backing as interim manager.
“Now the role is permanent, it means I can be more flexible in my approach. We can look at improving areas if and when I think we need to but the boys we have here are really playing for me and for the club. I want that to continue and for us to move up the table.”
Absolutely delighted to be appointed @EUFCofficial manager on a full time basis. It’s been a complete staff, squad, fans and club effort over the last 3/4 weeks that has got us there. The support I’ve received has been fantastic. Let’s hope our steady improvement continues. ??
— Kevin Watson (@kevwatson74) November 3, 2019
Watson succeeds former Dagenham and Woking boss Hill after Fleet followed up away wins at Sutton and Chorley by playing their part in an entertaining draw with a Chesterfield side who’d won their previous four matches.
Scott Boden put the Spireites ahead in the 12th minute when he pounced on a rebound from a Gevaro Nepomuceno shot from the edge of the box.
Gozie Ugwu equalised with his sixth goal of the season five minutes later before scoring again from the spot to put Fleet in front in the 51st minute. Haydn Hollis levelled it up for the visitors five minutes later.
Read the full match report and interview with Watson in The Non-League Paper this Sunday.
Image courtesy of ebbsfleetunited.co.uk