Fleet appoint new chairman - Daish begins to rebuild his squad

Thursday 24th June 2010

EBBSFLEET UNITED can confirm that Phil Sonsara is the new club chairman.

Phil, previously acting CEO, has been working voluntarily, on a full-time basis, for the last seven months at Stonebridge Road.

Outgoing chairman Duncan Holt, who took over from John Moules last year, will stay on as vice chairman.

"It has not been easy but I look forward to the challenge that lies ahead this season," Mr Sonsara said in a statement, issued to www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

"I am pleased that Duncan has agreed to carry on as vice chairman. It has been great to have his experience around and we have a great working relationship."

Former chairman Duncan Holt added: "Phil has done an awful lot of work and it makes sense. It allows me to concentrate on things such as working with Eurostar and the council. It’s just logical. I have a full-time job and he has been working at the club full-time for seven months now. He hadn’t been involved in football before but you do learn quickly.

"At Ebbsfleet the role is not of a traditional chairman anyway. Most chairman own the club and call the shots but it’s a different model here and it’s just a title really.

“I still have work to do though and so I’m not going anywhere. Members have a vital vote to make this week as they decide whether to go into next season with part-time players. The realisation is that we will probably go part-time."

The Fleet are preparing for life in Blue Square Bet South, following eight years in the top flight of non-league football.

They have begun building their playing squad for next season with the announcement of three signings.

Arriving at Stonebridge Road is 26-year-old central defender Paul Lorraine from AFC Wimbledon.

Lorraine will also be familiar to Fleet fans from his appearances with Woking in the Blue Square Premier division.

The club are also delighted to announce that two of last season's most promising youngsters are returning to the Fleet - midfielder Michael West, a product of the club's youth system, and former Peterborough striker Scott Ginty, who scored twice at Tamworth in the final game of last season.

Lorraine, a target of Liam Daish's when the Fleet were in the Blue Square Premier, is no stranger to Kent football having begun his career at Erith & Belvedere and he also had a spell at Welling United.

Following a move to Braintree in 2004, he gained a reputation as a dependable central defender, making more than 100 appearances for the Essex club before a four-figure fee took him to Fisher.

He had three spells at AFC Wimbledon, the latest during the 2009-10 season where he played 38 games in the Blue Square Premier, including both games against the Fleet. He also turned out 70 times for Woking between 2007 and 2009.

Nineteen-year-old striker Ginty re-signs following a fine first season at Premier Division level. Despite 29 of his 32 games last season coming from the bench, the ex-Peterborough youngster netted six goals and will surely feature more heavily this season.

Similarly, 20-year-old midfielder Michael West, who has played 35 times for the Fleet, will also be expected to fine-tune his game in the coming season.

More signings are imminent and further announcements will be made shortly.

Ebbsfleet United, meanwhile, have slashed admission prices to £11 (adults) and £5 (concessions) next season.

Also, a total of £16,000 has also been raised through supporters’ Adopt a Player Scheme.

Article courtesy of www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk