SEARLE'S FLEET UP FOR BATTLE

DANNY SEARLE says Ebbsfleet United have shown him in less than a fortnight they've got what it takes to beat the National League drop.

- Matt Badcock

The former Braintree Town and Aldershot Town boss has been confirmed as the Fleet's permanent manager after a two-game interim spell following Dennis Kutrieb's sacking.

Searle, who will be assisted by former Conference winner Anwar Uddin, guided the Kent outfit to positive draws against promotion-chasers Oldham and runaway leaders Chesterfield.

And he thinks this week's clari ty on who will be in charge of the team long-term gives the squad the stability required for a successful relegation escape.

"The players are more than ca pable of surviving," Searle told The NLP. "There's enough quality in the building from a technical and tactical perspective. You al ways have to question where their heads are at mentally because obviously, it's been a tough season so far and that takes its toll on the players and, I know, on the fans.

"The biggest thing for me was to see if we could get a reaction out of them. Credit to each and everyone of them, we got that in both games." Searle says the combination of a blank canvas and re-energising the group has paid off so far.

Fleet sauntered to the National League South title last season and were widely tipped to have another strong season.