EBBSFLEET manager Liam Daish has spoken out after the club were hit with the prospect of playing two tough away games in less than 48 hours.

Setanta have switched Fleet’s televised match with Crawley from Tuesday, February 12 to Thursday, February 14.

This has left Daish’s side with the prospect of making a 220-mile trip to Torquay on Saturday, February 16, less than a day-and-a-half after their game at the Broadfield Stadium.

The club’s appeal to the league failed after a Football Conference sub committee decided the fixture should not be moved.

Daish said: “We made an appeal as we’re not happy. We’ve got to go down to Crawley and then get down to Torquay in less than 48 hours. It’s totally unfair.

“We are a team which is chasing the play-off spots. We have got every right to turn round and fight our corner.”

Football Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick said: “Ebbsfleet chairman Jason Botley contacted me to ask if we would agree to move the Torquay game back to the Sunday. I said we would like to get consent before there is any confrontation.”

But Torquay refused permission and the decision was then put to the league’s sub committee.

Mr Strudwick added: “On this occasion they decided the fixture wouldn’t be moved. It is always unfortunate when the league becomes embroiled in making a decision because the clubs haven’t agreed.”

Executive producer of Setanta Sports’ Blue Square Premier coverage, Stephen Cook, said: “We requested the fixture be re-scheduled for Thursday, February 14. As we understand, from doing that the Football Conference received a request from Ebbsfleet to move their Saturday fixture against Torquay to Sunday.

“The league then attempted to move it, but didn’t get consent. They then informed the club’s chairman and he accepted it. We request fixtures but the final decision for the schedule is in the hands of the league. We’re not stamping our feet and insisting these fixtures go ahead.”