Kent club won promotion to the National League on Saturday and their manager will go up against his old club next season
Daryl McMahon, who was part of Leyton Orient’s promotion-winning 2005/06 team, is set to come up against his old club next season.
The 33-year-old is manager of Ebbsfleet United and last Saturday they defeated Chelmsford City 2-1 in the National League South play-off final to secure a place in the 2017/18 National League.
McMahon started his career at West Ham before leaving in 2004 and moving to Brisbane Road in the same year, where he remained until departing in 2007.
The former Republic of Ireland youth has been manager of Fleet since 2014 and after Saturday’s win, will pit his wits against his old side at some point next season.
“It’s going to be a different challenge. Obviously, we’re not going to be expected to go and get promoted in the National League,” McMahon told BBC Radio Kent.
“You look at the sides at that level, your Tranmeres, Leyton Orients, Hartlepools – there are some very big sides in there.
“We’ve got three Kent derbies to look forward too, a game with Dagenham & Redbridge, so it’s a very big league.
“In real terms we’re probably a small club in this division, so we have to show everyone what we’re about.
“It’s going to be different for us next year in terms of us probably being the underdog in a lot of games, so we’ll look forward to that and I’m sure we’ll adapt to that.”
Ex-Orient forward Aaron McLean played for Ebbsfleet in the final and could return to face his old club at some point next season.
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