Sam Denly says he is delighted with the response to Herne Bay’s pre-season training, with more than 60 players turning up at each of the first two sessions.

The Bay boss has added to his squad this week with the signing of former Gillingham and Notts County forward Jamie O’Connell – who is known to Denly’s head coach Neil Brown from his time at Priestfield.

O’Connell spent two years at Meadow Lane between 2009 and 2011 and was managed by former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson. He joined Sutton United in 2012.

Denly said: “He’s just had a knee operation five weeks ago and is looking to get back to fitness. He joined us for training on Saturday and worked hard. Neil knows him from his time at Gillingham and Jamie had a short spell with Whitstable last season too.”

Denly added: “I am pleased with how things are going. We had over 60 for the first session on Saturday and even more on Tuesday.

“There were a lot of positives and four or five new faces that really stood out.
“We’re going to train on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday next week and have a trial game on Wednesday to see who’s in with a chance of playing in the first game against Whitstable on the Saturday.”

The playing surface at Winch’s Field is still being worked on with Bay and tenants Canterbury City having to re-arrange all their pre-season games to alternative venues in the hope the pitch is fit for the start of the Ryman League, Division 1 South season on August 10.

Bay will visit Whitstable on July 13 (3pm), Woodstock Sports on July 20 (1pm), Bromley Green on July 27 (3pm), Chatham on Tuesday, July 30 (7.45pm) and Lewisham Borough on Sunday, August 4 (2.30pm).