Daish appeals to keep stars at club

Wednesday 15th July 2009

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish has hinted at the possibility of recapturing two of last season's squad - defender Dean Pooley and midfielder Ricky Shakes - but only if he can secure a budget boost to do so.

In a message to MyFC members, EUFC club accountant Graeme Swift estimated that a £10,000 injection would be needed (£230 a week) to give the Fleet boss a chance of re-signing the two players and a fundraising strategy is already in place.

Funds to the tune of £2,500 were already in place in just over 12 hours of the news going live on MyFC on Tuesday night.

Daish this week spoke of his desire to reinforce his squad's experience, saying, "We are now around two weeks into pre-season. It's been a very challenging time with only a handful of players under contract and around 45 trialists to look at so far.

“It's fair to say we've had some interesting characters, strange haircuts, funny coloured boots – but hopefully we'll find some gems.”

Ebbsfleet United got their pre-season campaign underway on Monday night, with a 1-0 win at Ryman Premier League newboys Aveley.

“We won 1-0 but more importantly, it was to get a decent look at 20 or so trialists in a match situation,“ Daish told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

“You learn much more than just watching them at the training ground. Some of the performances were encouraging and we should add some decent players to the ones we already have.

“Two lads I'm very keen to add are Ricky Shakes and Dean Pooley, who were with us last season. They've also said they'd like to play for Ebbsfleet United again this season.

"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.

"I'm very conscious of continually asking owners for money, and I know that several hundred of you have already given generously. But if you're able to, please help us build our weekly playing budget."

Club accountant Mr Swift revealed the processes already under way in this attempt to fund the players:

"As we can see from above, our manager is in the process of building a squad, and has requested more funding from the club's owners (the members) to enable him to re-sign two of last season's players, Ricky Shakes and Dean Pooley,” he said.

"I estimate, that raising an extra £10,000 (around £230 a week) will make it easier for Liam Daish to re-sign these two players.

“Having discussed the matter with the Trust Board, club staff and MyFC Web Team, we hope to help Liam sign Ricky Shakes and Dean Pooley by raising £10,000 and sharing the players' sponsorship of £1,200 as a group. Here's how we aim to raise the GBP11,200 required:

1. We need to sell 560 £20 'tickets' to raise £11,200

2. Members and fans can give a minimum of £20 for a 'ticket', or can purchase more than one 'ticket' (ie. five tickets = £100). This can be done as a one-off amount or monthly amounts through visiting www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

Everyone who gives at least £20 will have their name printed in a special eight-page section in one edition of the match day programme. In addition, two names will be drawn at random and they will receive the players' home and away shirts and tracksuits at the end of the season.

Mr Swift added: “We hope that by including the players' sponsorship and the eight-page section with fans' and members' names in the programme, it makes the appeal more engaging. You can follow the progress of 'tickets' sold and funds raised on this thread and take part by buying £20 'tickets”.

Article courtesy of www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk