There was one new face in the Ebbsfleet United dressing room when the players reported for Josh Wright and pre-season training – new at Stonebridge Road but very familiar to Kent football. 

Max Ehmer left Gillingham in May after 428 appearances in blue for new challenges and we caught up with the new Fleet defender; “It was weird not going back to Priestfield, but it is a fresh start, and I am looking forward to it,” he admitted to us. 

“I won’t get into the massive details of why I chose Ebbsfleet, but to say that I did have some League Two and Conference options, but the project here suited me, and I know Josh (Wright – the Ebbsfleet manager) from playing with him at Priestfield.  

“David Kerslake is there too, and I know him from his time at Gillingham as well, so I felt it was the right fit for me at this time. I could have stayed in League Two, but I feel that I have done more than enough in the League where there was, without sounding big-headed, nothing left for me to prove in the League.” 

“I just wanted a new change and a fresh challenge – exciting times!” 

Ehmer and Wright shared the dressing at Priestfield for a couple of years, and we wondered if Ehmer had seen any differences between Wright the player and Wright the manager?  

He told us, “They are quite similar really to be honest. He has always been a very dedicated person, and you could always see that the change from player to manager was always going to work with Josh.  

“It’s only been a short time with me as a player under him but you can really tell that he knows what he is doing and with having the experienced head alongside (Kerslake) he is really good and detailed in everything that he does – you wouldn’t have said it was his first managerial job that’s for sure!” 

“I know Kers as he was with Justin Edinburgh at Gillingham, who signed me permanently for the club after Peter Taylor brought in me in on loan.” 

Ehmer is very well aware that his new side have a tough season ahead of them after their relegation to the National League South. “We’ve had team meetings already,” Ehmer told us, “And we all know where this club should be.  

“We are looking to bounce straight back for sure. We have a strong squad assembled and a proper set up; it could be an exciting year but obviously we must do the business on the pitch. There are a lot of big clubs in the division and we know it will be a tough League but with the signings that we have made and the players who are already in place with all the coaching staff and their backgrounds it’s all set up very well to be very exciting.” 

The fixtures that were released last week have given the Fleet a tough start against fellow relegated side Dagenham & Redbridge. “It will be tough,” Ehmer admitted, “But you know sometimes it’s good to get games like that out of the way early – we want to stamp our authority on the League and will go looking to win every game taking each one at a time. We will look to go to Dagenham and get the three points and start the season well!”