Ebbsfleet United supporters are demanding answers as to what the future holds for the club.
Yesterday, the entire Fleet squad released a statement over their unpaid April wages and the treatment from owner Dr Abdulla Al Humaidi.
Now concerned supporters have hand delivered an open letter asking for the club to be more transparent on the embarrassing situation.
It read: “It now seems a distant memory; our football club being saved from imminent extinction, embracing the new Kuwaiti owner and saviour with his wealth and commitment to building a brighter future for the club, both on and off the pitch.
“We as supporters appreciate the vast investment already made by Dr Al Humaidi, who has also continually said he wants to make the club financially self-sufficient, which he reiterated during the recent Supporters Trust consultation.
“However, continual delayed staff salary payments due to lack of cleared funds to cover the payroll and apparent delays in transferring additional funds from Kuwait, together with outstanding payments to the training ground, late filing of returns, winding up orders, legal entanglements etc. has caused enormous unrest within the team and justifiable concerns from the loyal base of supporters.
“This season the playing squad have consistently exceeded expectations on the pitch, especially remarkable given the consistent delays in paying them on time and the personal complications that this must have caused them. We want to thank them for their steadfast commitment and achievements given the circumstances and wish them the best for the future.
“Now we have reached the end of the 2018-19 season, the club have decided not to renew any playing staff's expiring contracts and we are now left without a team of players to support. This now leaves our manager Garry Hill with a very difficult close season to source a new playing squad to compliment the handful of remaining players, seemingly on a more sustainable budget with less reliance on investment from the owner.
“Dr Al Humaidi has also stated that planned redevelopment at the Stonebridge Road ground will no longer go ahead unless necessary.
“Considering all the points raised and the negative press this has generated, it begs the questions; what players would now want to sign for Ebbsfleet United? Who would want to sponsor Ebbsfleet United? The only remaining consistent factor is the ever committed band of supporters, who will follow the club no matter what, but given the aforementioned reasons may no longer consistently attend games.
“In conclusion, the supporters are the repeat customer base of Ebbsfleet United and as ‘customers' we have a choice to continue buying/investing our own money. If the club wants to salvage any remaining respect and regain trust in order to secure sponsorship and ticket sales it should clarify the following:
“1. What is the clubs renewed plan for growth, stability and progression?
“a. What are the ongoing investment guarantees from the owner?
“b. What are the future objectives and how are they going to be realised?
“c. How competitive do the club want to be given the reduced playing budget?
“2. Provide guarantees that the business will be run professionally, responsibly, legally and empathetically:
“a. Pay employees on time the remuneration they are due
“b. Submit Companies House and HMRC returns on time
“c. Pension contributions and insurances will be paid on time as they are due”
