Ebbsfleet United pull off Danny Kedwell transfer coup

EBBSFLEET UNITED have pulled off a major coup by signing Gillingham striker Danny Kedwell on an 18-month contact with an option to extend by a further year.


The 31-year-old former AFC Wimbledon and Welling United player put pen to paper on a contract at Stonebridge Road this morning, delighting Fleet manager Jamie Day who had identified Kedwell as a prime target in reshaping his squad.

“It’s a massive signing for the club,” Day told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.  

“I’ve known Keds a long time and I still regard him as a League One player. But we’ve sold him what the club’s about and where we want to be. He’ll hopefully bring real experience and game knowledge to the squad.

“It’s why I came to this club too, to be able to add League-quality players to the core of hungry players I have here now. But it’s no good just shipping players in for the sake of it. They’ve got to perform on the pitch and have the right attitude and Keds is one I believe will have all those attributes.

“I’d like to thank Gillingham chairman Paul Scally for agreeing to release Danny. As a club, we are extremely grateful to him for making this deal possible.”

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally added: “As a result of a contact from Ebbsfleet United and a number of conversations between the club and Danny over the past 24 hours, it has been agreed to allow Danny to be transferred to Ebbsfleet United with immediate effect.

“This has been a particularly difficult decision for all parties. Danny is highly regarded by everyone here at Gillingham. He has a great passion for the club, is a true professional and is, and will remain, part of the GFC family.

“However, it is right that he also considers his long-term playing career and the requirements of his family, plus of course his desire to play regular first-team football for as long as possible – and the opportunity offered to him at Ebbsfleet addresses both those issues.

“I speak on behalf of all connected at Gillingham FC in wishing Danny a successful time at Ebbsfleet and indeed thank him for his hard work and loyalty whilst he has been playing at Priestfield.

“I have told him he will always be a welcome individual at Gillingham FC and once his playing career is over I would hope he returns to the club in a coaching capacity, if indeed that is the path he wishes to pursue.”

The Gillingham-born powerhouse striker played for a host of Kent clubs before making his breakthrough at Herne Bay and Welling United, scoring 40-plus goals for the Wings between 2005 and 2007.

A season at Grays Athletic in the Conference Premier followed before a move to AFC Wimbledon in 2008 saw Kedwell help fire the Dons into the Football League, averaging almost a goal every other game, netting 67 times in three seasons.

In 2011 he moved to Priestfield for an undisclosed fee and was top scorer in the season Gillingham won the League Two championship, becoming a real favourite among Gills fans.

Ebbsfleet United are in seventh-place in the Vanarama Conference South table with 38 points from 24 games, ten points behind leaders Boreham Wood.

The Fleet host Forest Green Rovers – managed by Adrian Pennock – in The FA Trophy Second Round on Saturday (3pm).

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