Ebbsfleet United have announced Harry Watling as their new manager ahead of their home game against Hartlepool this weekend.

The Fleet have moved quickly to replace Danny Searle and ensure that they had a new man in place as soon as possible. With Josh Wright who took charge against Aldershot Town in midweek returning to his role as player and Captain for the weekend.

Watling, 34, has most recent experience as first-team coach in the Scottish Premier League with Glasgow Rangers and before that he was first-team coach at Championship side QPR.

Prior to those high-profile roles at the top end of the Scottish and English games, the new Fleet boss was head coach at USL Championship side Hartford Athletic, spending 18 months from January 2021 in the United States where he broke several records including most goals scored and most clean sheets in his first season.

He was one of the youngest coaches in England to achieve UEFA A, B and Pro licences having started out as an Academy coach for Chelsea aged 20. He spent more than five years at Stamford Bridge before embarking on similar roles at Millwall and West Ham United where he was academy head coach from 2018 to 2021.

Watling will be joined at the Kufflink Stadium by assistant manager David Kerslake and first-team coach John Cotton.

Kerslake is no stranger to football in Kent having been Justin Edinburgh’s assistant when he was Gillingham Manager in 2015, and brings a wealth of experience from a stellar coaching career.

John Cotton joins Ebbsfleet following his time with Charlton Athletic’s academy, most notably the U16s.

Speaking on being appointed as Ebbsfleet manager, Watling told the Ebbsfleet official site: “I’m delighted to be here. It’s a brilliant setup at Ebbsfleet and it was really important to align myself with a club that allows me to play football on the front foot and the way I want to play it.

“I want to develop people here, and what I saw on the pitch on Tuesday night, I loved the commitment, the honesty and work rate, and the quality on show.

“It was a marker for the bare minimum I want to see and now myself, David and John can’t wait to get started in front of the Fleet fans on home soil against Hartlepool on Saturday.”

Image courtesy of Ebbsfleet United FC