Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright reacts to relegation from the National League after 3-3 draw at Aldershot Town

Ebbsfleet manager Josh Wright admitted it was a “surreal feeling“ after their inevitable relegation from the National League was confirmed on Saturday.

The Fleet’s stay in the top flight of non-league football lasted just two seasons after the record-breaking National League South title success of 2022/23.

It’s been a case of when rather than if for some months, but a 3-3 draw at Aldershot proved the final nail in their relegation coffin.

“It’s a slightly strange, surreal feeling,” said Wright. “You can’t shy away from what we’ve known in recent weeks, what the inevitable was going to be. It was going to happen at some point.

“Let's clear that one up. It's a difficult day. It's been a hell of a difficult season all round. We all know that.

“It's been a season that we all want to forget.

“We're not stupid enough to know that we knew at some point in recent weeks that it was going to happen. It doesn't change anything for us. It doesn't change our mindset.

“It doesn't change our approach. We will go into every game to keep trying to get a positive result for this football club and end the season as high as we can.”

The relegation overshadowed what was a particularly positive first-half display from Wright’s team against an in-form Aldershot outfit that had won four of their last five league games.

The Fleet twice came from behind to lead 3-2 following a crazy 15-minute goal burst.

“We've just come to an informed side over the last 10, 11 games, are in the top two or three for that,” said Wright.

“They’re beating most teams that they're facing at the moment and we've scored three goals against them.

“We've conceded three extremely soft goals, which I will dissect and debrief next week with the boys. But it's a tough day.

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