Daish faces uncertain future

EBBSFLEET UNITED boss Liam Daish must pick up his devastated troops ahead of their trip to Salisbury City tomorrow night, as attention now turns to Blue Square Premier survival, writes Stephen McCartney.

The defending champions were knocked out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy by Stevenage Borough at the weekend, losing the two-legged semi-final 4-2 on aggregate.

Stevenage substitute Peter Vincenti scored the only goal at Stonebridge Road with the last kick of the game on Saturday, but the damage was done at Broadhall Way seven days earlier.

The Fleet, who threw the kitchen sink at Borough at Stonebridge Road, never recovered from their poor first half showing up in Hertfordshire, and missed out on a lucrative dream ticket to Wembley Stadium and a showdown with York City.

Daish, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, urges Fleet fans to support his side as they face a congested end to their campaign.

“We’re going to need them for the rest of the season to lift the lads,” he said.

“We’ve got a bit of work to do with the amount of fixtures that we haven’t played in the league. They’re on the floor in there, but that’s life, it’s cruel sometimes.”

Stevenage Borough will bank a reported £300,000 from playing at Wembley Stadium in May, and Ebbsfleet United are faced with an uncertain future without such a financial shot in the arm.

When quizzed about the financial implications of not returning to Wembley, Daish replied, “I don’t know, I think you need to talk to chief execs and chairmen about that, I haven’t got the figures in front of me.”

But he added, “I think we’ve got a couple off big weeks in front of us, but I’m sure there will be a lot of talking and that but that’s for other people. I can only comment on the football side today and I keep saying it, my players were magnificent today.

“They’ve given me everything, I’m extremely proud of them,”

When asked about his own future at Stonebridge Road, Daish replied, “Well, I don’t know, do people want me here next year?

“We have no define right to keep getting to Trophy finals, we can’t base the club round getting to a final because they don’t happen very often.

“We enjoyed it last year, financially we made a good, some money and sold a player, we sold John Akinde.

“Stevenage, they keep their players, they keep (27-goal striker) Steve Morrison and that can be the difference, but I can’t comment on any other off-the-field stuff.

“I’m just pleased for the lads, well, disappointed for the lads, but very grateful for what they’ve given me today.”

Daish, meanwhile, would like his own questions about his future answered.

He said: “Do they want me here? That was a little bit tongue in cheek, but what I mean is the model of the club and the way things are going, I don’t know.

“I think there’s a lot of questions to be answered and I’m sure everything will be revealed, so we’ll see.”

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

Salisbury City v Ebbsfleet United
Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 24^th March 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Raymond McEnhill Stadium, Partridge Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6PU