Ebbsfleet United managing director Dave Archer has reassured supporters the club will not be taking voluntary relegation from the National League while a flurry of sackings has left crisis club Gateshead with just three full-time staff.
Rumours have circled over the future of the two clubs in Non-League‘s top-flight following financial problems.
Fleet have paid their players late throughout the season and a story published online two weeks ago claimed they were considering resigning to the Bostik League.
Archer, though, has denied that is the case. “I can reassure supporters these season tickets will be for National League football next season,” he said.
“Some of you may have seen a story run by a website last week stating that we as a club were considering a drop down to a lower level. This was pure fiction.
“Both Peter Danzey (club secretary) and Ed Miller (communications manager) contacted the website concerned asking if they could substantiate the story and that website has now removed the article which tells you all you need to know.
“Myself, Garry Hill (manager) and all club staff are already hard at work preparing this club for the 2019/20 National League season.”
Meanwhile, Gateshead owner Dr Ranjan Varghese has sacked general manager Alisha Henry, assistant manager Ian Watson, sports injury therapist Annie Davis and player-kit man JJ O’Donnell, leaving the club with only three full-time employees. O’Donnell and Davis were both sacked via email.
Players and fans have been trying to force Varghese out of the club to allow former Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy to take control.
The departures mean manager Ben Clark, club captain Scott Barrow and press officer Dominic Scurr are the club’s only full-time employees with Barrow’s contract set to run out at the end of June.
