Ebbsfleet’s survival hopes have been given a timely boost this week.

Fleet boss Kevin Watson understands only three teams will be relegated from the National League – meaning they could be just four points from safety.

The demise of Bury from League 1 this season means only one team will be relegated from the Football League.

The knock-on effect further down the pyramid could save Fleet – if they can get themselves out of the bottom three.

“From everything that we’ve been told, I’m pretty sure that because of the Bury situation and them going under, that it’s going to be three going down,” said Watson.

“At the minute, that puts us four points from safety. Obviously, we’re not going to take that as gospel but if it is that, we’re giving ourselves every chance.

“We’ve gained a point on AFC Fylde and Chesterfield last weekend. We know we need wins but Sutton have lost one in 11 since we beat them last time so it was a point gained for me last week – it’s better than nothing.”

Despite the extra lifeline, Watson insisted that the Fleet’s main priority is to climb out of the bottom four.

They drew at home to Sutton last weekend, and the manager knows they need victories sooner rather than later.

“If you target the line then it’s seven points,” he added. “We’ve got to win as many football matches as we can.

“We’ve given ourselves chances, we know going back a few months that when we drew seven games, we led in six of them and that became a mental thing.

“It’s human nature to try and hold on to a one-goal lead and that’s why I was desperate to get that second against Sutton.”

While the Fleet are in FA Trophy action against Royston Town this weekend, league matches against Chorley and Chesterfield in the following fortnight will not be too far out of their minds.

“It’s a massive month,” added Watson. “You can’t say that our season will be defined on it but it will go very close to.

“Not only with the games that we’ve got – but because there won’t be many games left after. It’s pivotal, it really is.

“We take each game on its merits and each game as it comes. These boys have run their socks off for me and the club, and they’ll continue to.

“There’s always a team that gets sucked in towards you, and there’s always a team near the bottom that creeps out to safety – and I’m hoping that team is going to be us.”

There’s still no sign that the Fleet’s transfer embargo will be lifted due to an unpaid tax bill.

That means midfielder Michael Timlin, signed a fortnight ago, is not allowed to feature against Royston.

“You just get on with it,” stressed Watson. “I’ve said to the boys what goes on the training ground and the pitch is nothing to do with anything else.”

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