National League suspend Ebbsfleet over unpaid debts

Ebbsfleet United missed out on last season's play-offs on goal differnece [Shutterstock] Ebbsfleet United's first three National League South games of the season have been suspended because of the club's ongoing financial problems. The club has been subject to a winding-up petition by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs over unpaid debts going back to April. It means their trip to Slough Town on Saturday 8 August, Folkestone Invicta's visit to the Kufflink Stadium on 15 August and their game away at Chelmsford City on Monday 17 August will all be rescheduled. Ebbsfleet are currently in the process of bringing in new owners and have until 17:00 BST on Tuesday 18 August to "provide satisfactory evidence that its obligations have been and will be met in accordance with applicable regulations", according to a National League statement. Ebbsfleet were relegated from the National League at the end of the 2024-25 season and finished ninth in National League South in the last campaign, missing out on the play-offs on goal difference. The National League has also informed the Independent Football Regulator about the situation, with Ebbsfleet under a transfer embargo. 'We look forward to this being rectified' In a statement on their website the club said that their HMRC debts would be cleared by the end of August once the club's takeover had been competed. "Vetting and financial checks for the new proposed ownership and takeover have taken place over the last 12 months and were approved by the league on 1 May in writing," the statement added. "However, with the recent overturning of the Northfleet Harbourside development, the league have also raised concerns around the club's financial viability, debt that has been placed into the club and how it is treated. "The league have provided the owners until 10:00 BST on 19 August to rectify its position and demonstrate this to the league. "Obviously our players, staff and supporters have taken a number of blows in the last week, none of which is within their control or a result of their work or actions, and we ask for understanding and care during this time while the ownership situation is solved. "Everyone has worked so hard and completed an excellent pre-season and we look forward to this being rectified and demonstrating the results of that hard work throughout the season."