Pic: David Purday
EBBSFLEET UNITED have rewarded boss Daryl McMahon with a new five-year contract after he led the club to National League South play-off glory.
McMahon, 33, was appointed Ebbsfleet boss in March 2015 after a stint as academy manager and was tasked with taking Fleet back up to Non-League‘s top tier.
The big-spending Kent club have backed the young boss and they have reaped the rewards following the promotion final victory against Chelmsford City earlier this month.
It came 12 months after Fleet were defeated in the final on penalties by Kent rivals Maidstone United but McMahon will be a National League manager next season after another impressive campaign in which they missed out on the league title to Maidenhead.
And to show their commitment to the former Leyton Orient and Stevenage midfielder, Ebbsfleet have handed McMahon a new long-term deal, something not often seen in Non-League.
McMahon told Fleet Online: “Over the past two years the club has backed me 100 per cent and as a young coach it is vital I have time to help me to develop as a manager and learn my trade without the pressure some managers face week on week.
“I love this club and feel totally comfortable with the support structure around me and our supporters can rest assured that I will be doing everything I can to move this club forward.
“I want to see the team and the stadium develop in tandem and I want to put this club on the football map. The supporters were brilliant towards me and the players last season – and if we can maintain the attendances we saw in the latter stages of last season I promise them that we will entertain them and always give total commitment to the cause.”
Chairman Dr Abdulla Al Humaidi added: “Daryl has done a brilliant job at this club, initially with the youth academy and for the past two years as first-team manager.
“The quality of the football played has been outstanding and despite the disappointment of losing the 2016 Promotion Final on penalties in his first full season, Daryl galvanised the squad and got his just rewards this season with promotion to the National League.
“I want him to know how much we appreciate what he does and I want him to feel secure in his role; offering him this long-term contract demonstrates our confidence in his ability to continue the progress made in the last two years”
