The Herne Bay squad report back for their first pre-season training session on Saturday and they can expect no favours from Sam Denly.

Bay’s new manager said: “The players will be training on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday for the next two weeks as they prepare for the Bruce Smith Shield game (against Whitstable) on July 13 and I can promise them two weeks of hard work.”

Denly’s squad is gradually taking shape, with midfielder Sam Taylor and central defender Connor Sanders the latest players from last season’s first and reserve team squads to commit to another season at Winch’s Field.

Denly said: “Sam played for me in the reserve team before breaking into the first team at the back end of last season and he and Connor are both good young lads who have come up through the ranks.”

One player who has left, however, is versatile Marvin Okundalaiye, who has joined Ramsgate.