Ebbsfleet's supporters’ trust is ready to open negotiations with owners MyFootballClub about taking over the club and starting the search for new investors.

In a statement issued at the end of last week, the Fleet Trust voiced their concerns over the club’s finances and "the viability and sustainability of the football club under its present ownership."

MyFootballClub, the online society which bought Ebbsfleet in 2008, has seen its membership steadily dwindle from 32,000 to 1,200. Now the Fleet Trust has called on them to relinquish control in order to keep the club alive.

Emily Connolly, the Trust vice-chair, said: "I cannot imagine the football club will remain if MyFootballClub continue as owners. Membership numbers have dropped so dramatically from when they first bought the football club, down to a level where they cannot put in the finances to keep the club running on a day-to-day basis."

She added: "We would be happy to take over in the context of looking for another investor. At the moment, we’re exploring what we can do. If taking the shares over from MyFootballClub would help, then yes, we would do that.

MyFootballClub chairman Keith Handley said the Trust had "made some good points" in their statement but insisted the question of MyFC selling their shares had not been raised.

He said: "There’s never been any contact from the Fleet Trust to say they would want it. When you read comments it does raise the question of whether we are wanted at the club. But if we weren’t there, the club’s in a bit of a hole and that’s got to be filled."

MyFootballClub donated £10,000 toward player wages last month and the Fleet Trust are contributing £9,000 for the same reason.

For all the good work being done by both parties, though, the Trust statement spoke of a relationship breakdown to the point where "effective communication for the good of the football club has become untenable."

Full story in this week's Gravesend Messenger