Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright reacts to 4-1 National League defeat at Barnet, deciding not to play and getting the best out of Dominic Poleon

Josh Wright has confirmed he won’t be playing now that’s he taken on his first permanent managerial role.

The new Ebbsfleet boss watched on from the sidelines as his team lost 4-1 at new National League leaders Barnet on Saturday.

The 35-year-old midfielder wants to give managerial matters his full attention.

“I think it’s all or nothing,” stated Wright. “I’m either a player or a manager.

“I’ve chosen this route now after being offered the role and that’s how I see it.

“I’ve got to give my 110 per cent to the manager’s role and that’s what I want to do so while I can, I will be managing and won’t be playing.”

Wright will be hoping to get the best out of striker Dominic Poleon.

The Fleet’s leading scorer came off the bench to get his side a deserved consolation goal at Barnet, ending a run of 505 minutes without a league goal.

“Young Maxx Manktelow came on and played a big part in it,” reflected Wright. “Dom ran it down and then showed composure to stick it in the back of the net.

“It might seem like a consolation but a goal like that could be massive moving forward, especially for someone like Dom Poleon who we know likes to be in amongst the goals.

“If we can get the best out of him, he can be a very good player. I know him, he knows me, and I know he’ll give me everything so long may that continue and there’s many more to come.”

Wright was pleased with Ebbsfleet’s second-half performance after a testing first 45 minutes.

“There’s no two ways about it, it was a very difficult first half,” stated the Fleet boss, who couldn’t have been given a tougher first assignment.

“We’ve come up against a good side who have done that to many teams this year and there’s a reason why they’re sitting top of the table.

“We tweaked some