Unearthing local youth talent will serve as a leading trait of Faversham’s summer recruitment policy, admits joint-manager Phil Miles.

The Lilywhites handed a Bostik South East debut to 17-year-old keeper Harry Day during Saturday’s 2-1 final day victory over East Grinstead.

Plucking untapped potential from the surrounding area will now represent the club’s approach to combatting the financial challenges teams face in the transfer market.

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Miles said: “We’ve had four or five youngsters on the bench this season. We’ve had some under-18s signed on with us and we’ve got the under-23s up and running.

“The trials for that will take place over the next few weeks. We’re looking for players from the local area, whether it’s for the under-23s or the first team.

“We’d love to see a lot more locals boys playing here, they’ll get that opportunity to show they’re capable of playing at this standard.

“We hope we’ll be here for the long-term, if we can establish a youth connection and links between the under-18s to the under-23s and the first team that would be great.

“If you haven’t got that money you have to look closer to home, we know when these boys get to 16 and 18 they start wondering where they want to go next, we want them to try and progress to the first team.

“We need that stepping stone from under-18s to under-23s and to try and get as many local players from the town. That obviously also generates revenue from people coming to watch local players.

“We’ll open it up to any of the players out there, if they are good enough they’ll be given a chance. I was lucky to play for Faversham with nine of my mates, we were successful and had an enjoyable time there. We want to bring this club and community together.

“You look at other clubs in financial problems because they’re competing with everyone else, whether you agree on how much players get paid at this level, it is what it is.

“Faversham as a club are not prepared to go under just to win a couple of games, moving forward we will look to go down the youth route.

“Some clubs have probably paid out too much than they can afford, you have to be sensible. ‘Sensible’ will be the biggest word when we sit down to talk with the chairman.”

Discussions with current players will meanwhile get under way as Faversham shape their squad in view of an improved 2019/20 campaign.

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