Ebbsfleet United suspended by the National League as their first three fixtures of the season against Slough Town, Folkestone Invicta and Chelmsford City are postponed

Ebbsfleet have described the National League’s decision to suspend their first three matches as “extremely upsetting”.

The Fleet were due to start their National League South season away to Slough this Saturday before hosting Folkestone on August 15 and visiting Chelmsford two days later.

However, all three games have been postponed as the club has been suspended by the National League’s Compliance and Licensing Committee.

The Fleet were informed of the decision by the National League on Thursday morning and immediately issued a forthright response to outline their position.

It comes on the back of a week that saw the Northfleet Harbourside project, which included the Fleet’s proposed new ground, thrown out by the government, and the club issued with a winding-up petition for outstanding debts to HMRC.

In response to the league’s decision to postpone the first three games, Ebbsfleet stated: “The club were informed by The National League at 9.31am this morning that, after a committee meeting last night on the 5th August, they have come to the decision to suspend the club for the first three matches of the season.

“The first three league matches will be postponed as a result and rescheduled for a later date.

“Obviously, for our playing group, management, staff and most importantly supporters, this has come as a shock and is extremely upsetting.

“The League wrote to the club owners last week in response to the HMRC winding-up petition and requested assurances around the debt and other liabilities and asked for a response by midday yesterday (August 5th).

“We had been advised these debts would be satisfied in time and our statement of August 4th outlined that.

“The owners’ letter of response to the League yesterday proposed