New Faversham manager James Collins feels more than ready to step up a level.

Former Chatham boss Collins beat off competition from over 20 other applicants to land the Town job.

He’s enjoyed plenty of success working in Southern Counties East, winning a cup double at Chats and leading Lordswood to their highest-ever finish of fourth.

He quit Chatham at the end of September with the Medway club top of the league and now gets his chance in Isthmian South East with the Lilywhites.

Collins, 36, said: “It was too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I was enjoying the break if I’m honest but then the Faversham job came up.

“I’ve wanted to manage at this level, I’ve been trying to get out of Southern Counties East for a long time, and this was something I couldn’t turn down.

“I’d love to have done it with Chatham, it wasn’t to be, but I’m looking forward to working at this level.

“I’d like to think I’ve been successful at every club I’ve been at.

“I’ve watched a fair number of games at this level and I’ve always felt the top six in Southern Counties East could compete in this league with the quality they have.

“It’s easy saying I can do this or do that and now I will find out first-hand but I’m confident in my ability and it’s a good chance to test myself.

“We want to do as well as we can.

“There are no targets set but we’re looking up rather than down.

“It’s a good club and it was important when I met the chairman and the board that I got a feeling for it.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad word about Faversham.

“Certainly when I took the job, everyone I heard from said what a great club it is.”

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Collins has named former Sittingbourne and Ramsgate boss Nick Davis as his No.2 – the pair have known each other since primary school – with Bradley Sandeman on board as first-team coach.

The new manager, who started with a 2-1 league defeat at Phoenix Sports on Tuesday night, will be looking to strengthen his squad but there’s unlikely to be sweeping changes.

Collins, whose side host Three Bridges on Saturday, said: “If there’s players we feel we need then we’ll try but it’s a case of having a look at what we’ve got.

“I think it’s a good enough budget – I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t – but we’re probably looking at one in, one out if we make changes.”

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