I remain committed to Ebbsfleet United and will continue to be so for years to come, insists chairman Abdulla Al-Humaidi

EBBSFLEET UNITED chairman Abdulla Al-Humaidi says he remains committed to the club after being forced to part company with assistant manager Steve Gritt and first-team coach David Jupp as part of a financial restructure.

Former Charlton Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion manager Gritt first joined the Fleet as Steve Brown’s assistant in summer 2013 and stayed on as chief scout until re-appointed to his original role upon Daryl McMahon being named manager in May 2015.

Jupp was also part of Brown’s backroom team, spending time with the former Fleet boss at Lewes in 2014/15 before being recalled to the club by McMahon.

Both of them worked tirelessly in helping McMahon overhaul the squad in 2015 to achieve runners-up spot in 2015/16 and a play-off final place before going one better the following season and achieving promotion. That progression went one step further last season when Fleet reached the National League play-off semi-finals.

Fleet’s vice chairman Dean Pooley told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk, “Like Daryl, I started out playing under Steve Gritt and David Jupp to then working alongside them and I’ve seen up close how dedicated and hard-working they have been in all their years with this football club. That, of course, makes our decision to part ways even harder on a personal level.

“I can’t thank them enough for their input in my time here. They can be justifiably proud of our promotion and play-off qualification over the past two seasons and this club has consistently improved year on year since 2015 right up to last season’s sixth place.

“They depart with all of this football club’s warmest wishes for the future.”

Manager Daryl McMahon added: “I’m very sad to have to lose them. They’ve been terrific for the football club and me as a player working under them. Then as my assistant and first-team coach for three years where we went through three play-off campaigns together in a row. To lose them now is a blow and I simply can do no more right this minute than thank them sincerely and wish them all the best for the future.”

The Fleet manager will continue to work alongside his existing backroom team of Aaron McLean, Michael Jordan and Stacy Long.

Dr Al-Humaidi said in a statement that was published on www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk:  “KEH has now been the proud owner of Ebbsfleet United Football Club for over five years and in that time we have achieved a great deal both on and off of the pitch.

“I now feel this is the right time to restructure the football club across the board to ensure it is fully prepared for the challenges ahead.

“It has always been my ambition to make the club self-sufficient and the restructure will produce a sound platform on which to achieve that. Changes are ongoing and will continue to evolve.

“I remain committed to Ebbsfleet United and will continue to be so for years to come.”

Ebbsfleet United are in seventeenth-place in the Vanarama National League table with 18 points form 16 games and are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

The Fleet welcome second-placed Bostik Premier Division side Worthing to Stonebridge Road on Saturday in The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round (15:00).  The winners will scoop £25,000 in prize money and a place in the First Round.

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk