Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb on arriving late at Dulwich Hamlet, a potential new signing and starting striker Shaq Coulthirst
Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb admitted he was “fuming” after they arrived late for their midweek game at Dulwich in National League South.
The Fleet didn’t make it to the ground until 7.40pm, with the kick-off delayed 20 minutes in total, after the team coach was stuck in traffic.
The players didn’t need to walk to the ground in the end but they got changed on the team coach to save time.
“The players were alright, they were not bothered, but for me it was a headache,” said Kutrieb.
“I’m a perfectionist anyway but if we’re not here on time you start to watch the clock, every two minutes. I was fuming to be honest but it is what it is and the boys adapted very well.
“We needed to make sure the other cars could clear up the street, we couldn’t pass and were stuck in traffic - it was not moving forward or backwards so everyone had to get out and try to organise something so we could get through. It took ages to get through there.
“We needed to get ready with the kit as we didn’t have much time to warm-up. We were sitting around anyway so we got changed on the bus, then when we got to the ground they put their boots on and went out for the warm-up.”
The Fleet also had traffic encounters on the longer journey to Hungerford earlier this season and Kutrieb conceded it can’t keep happening.
“I apologise for getting here late, it’s the second time this season and it shouldn’t happen,” he said.
“We need to be better prepared so I’m not happy about it. We had 20 minutes to get warm and get ready. We have to be better prepared and make sure we arrive in time.
“That’s the minimum (level of) respect we need to give the opponents, referee and every fan. We will sort it out. The most important thing was to get the three points, now we