Whitstable Town manager Nicky Southall has hailed his two new young signings from Maidstone.

Striker Charlie Smith, who was the Stones reserves’ top scorer last season and winger Josh Smith joined the Oystermen a week ago.

Southall said: “They are two real gems. Charlie is an exciting player, while Josh was on the fringes of Maidstone’s first team.

“We need to supply Carl Rook and Mo Takaloo with good quality from wide areas as that is their bread and butter.”

One player who has departed The Belmont is striker James Everitt who has joined Ramsgate.

Whitstable begin their pre-season campaign at home to League 2 club Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday (3pm) and Southall said: “Hopefully we’ll have a decent crowd for this game and can show a league club that, although we are non-league, we’re acting professionally.”