I came here from GOG, but your Gog post wont last. EE is a game they charge for regularly, its free now but will only be free for the next few hours. So leaving up your post is not only advertising another gaming service, but is advising of a way to get a game free that GOG typically charges 5.99 for. (albeit a different version)
My suggestion, and I hope you take this seriously as I truly believe this is your best chance for saving your game, is alter your post on GOG.com and don't mention that this site is offering a free download of EE. Just mention that you provide a lobby for players wanting to play this game multiplayer. When they are already on the site, then mention they need to download your version first. This will drum up more activity on the site, and will severely lessen the chances of a GOG.com mod deleting your post directing players here.
On the subject of recruitment, if you want to bring old players back, you need incentive. Do a cash prize tourney. It would come out of your current hosting donations, and reduce your saving for future server hosting, but it also has the potential to generate more donations by drawing attention to this site and game again. If an old player sees they have a chance to win money by flexing their gaming muscles on a game they loved, they may remember why they loved it so much, and want to donate to ensure they always have a place to come back to anytime they want to keep playing.
To expand on this, you could advertise it on GOG.Com and instead of a cash tourney, have a tourney with the prize being GOG.com game credits. This would increase the chances of Gog.com admin allowing your thread to stay open, as they benefit from it, and attract a lot of Gog.com players over to this site, which to be honest, is likely your best bet at drumming up interest in this game. You need new blood, old players may return briefly, but they have already proven themselves to be fleeting. The best crack dealers know, that a long time crack head is not nearly as good of a customer as a crack head just getting started out. You cant go wrong with a crack dealer approach to sales
I hope you take my ideas under consideration, I've never played EE, but I always root for the underdog.