Ebbsfleet United unveil their new management team

Monday 03rd June 2013

EBBSFLEET UNITED are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Brown as first team manager and Steve Gritt as his assistant.

The ex-Charlton Athletic pair have plenty of Football League experience between them – Brown having played more than 200 games for Charlton Athletic in a 12-year career that included winning promotion to the Premier League via a play-off final at Wembley.

He also played 40 games for Reading before launching his coaching career with Charlton Athletic, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion while earning his UEFA A License.

In 2011 he was appointed assistant manager to Nicky Forster at Dover Athletic and helped build an exciting squad at Crabble, establishing the south coast side as one of the Conference South’s leading lights – before becoming only the Fleet’s third manager of the past 16 years.

Gritt, meanwhile, was most recently Chief Scout at AFC Bournemouth but made his name as a player at Charlton Athletic where he turned out more than 380 times in two spells.

From 1991-95 he was joint manager of the Addicks alongside Alan Curbishley and managed Brighton and the Charlton Academy either side of a time as Millwall reserve, caretaker and assistant manager.

A club statement issued on www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk said: “The duo are now set to start building their squad for the 2013-14 season with announcements on initial player acquisitions to be made in the coming week.”

Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi was announced as chairman with Peter Varney as executive vice chairman.

The Conference South club are delighted to announce that Paul Lorraine has put pen to paper and signed a new deal to keep him at Stonebridge Road.

Lorraine told the club’s website: “I never really wanted to leave Ebbsfleet and so I feel very privileged that the new manager Steve Brown wanted me to stay and be part of his new squad. I was very impressed when I met him and feel very excited about the forthcoming season.

“There are a few supporters at the club who always take time to speak to me and at the end of last season were asking me to stay. With things undecided about the clubs future it was difficult to commit so I am pleased for them as well that I have been given this opportunity.

“Lorraine is the first player to be confirmed by the new management team. These are exciting times and everyone connected with the club are looking forward to making further announcements during the coming days.”

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