Liam Daish: Ebbsfleet United failed to build on 2008 FA Trophy win

Former Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish says his biggest regret was the failure to build on their 2008 FA Trophy victory.

The 44-year-old left the club last week after eight years, the longest managerial spell in Fleet's history.

"Obviously winning a play-off final and then the FA Trophy are great memories," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"But we never pushed on. We were in such a strong position then, maybe we could have got into the Football League in the couple of years afterwards."

He added: "But the club never built on it and I have a few thoughts on why I think that was the case that I won't go into.

"Hopefully the club can strengthen and go again now."

Ebbsfleet were relegated from the Conference Premier this season and are close to being taken-over by Kuwaiti company KEH Sports Limited.

Former Charlton Athletic chief executive Peter Varney is fronting the group and recently expressed his confidence that a deal will be completed in the near future.

"I had a chat with the new people and everything was settled pretty quickly and amicably to make the best decision for both parties," Daish continued.

"If they'd asked me to stay I would have but going into the meeting I knew it was going one way or the other.

"To carry on I would have needed invigorating as, believe it or not, the manager needs motivating just like the players do.

"I didn't year after year of struggling because then enthusiasm wanes."

Daish retired from football in 2003 after making over 300 appearances for Cambridge United, Birmingham and Coventry before ending his career with a three-year spell at Havant & Waterlooville as joint player-manager.

He took over at Ebbsfleet in 2005 and won the FA Trophy in 2008 and promotion back to the Conference Premier in 2011 after suffering relegation the year previous.

"You never know what might happen career-wise," he added.

"I think my experience over these past eight years with marketing, budgeting and management has prepared me for jobs outside of football.

"But I see myself as a football manager of course and I want to be one next season."