Billy Bennett’s Faversham exit has been described as a “heart-wrenching decision” to have to make by manager Tommy Warrilow.

Fans’ favourite Bennett and versatile midfielder Jarred Trespaderne have left as Warrilow continues to shuffle the Southern Counties East League Premier Division frontrunners’ pack for their season run-in.

While Trespaderne only reunited with Warrilow in October, attacking midfielder Bennett had become a popular figure since he arrived in the 2023 summer.

“He’s a good lad,” said Warrilow. “It’s another one of those horrible decisions you have got to make in football.

“Long-term for Bill, he needs to be playing. He’s, obviously, been disappointed when he’s not played - but his attitude never changed.

“You’re not going to hear a bad word against Bill from me or anyone. Sometimes, you need to make these decisions as a manager, but it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m right.

“It’s just a heart-wrenching decision. He has nothing to prove to me.

“Unfortunately, Bill and Jazz - after Ian Draycott and Dan Thompson the week before - were just the ones to go.”

Joining is midfielder Zak Bryon, who arrives from title rivals VCD and made his Lilywhites debut off the substitutes’ bench in last week’s 4-0 home win over Tunbridge Wells.

Warrilow said: “I have known Zak and his family for a while.

“We saw he didn’t get on against Hartpury University in the Vase so we put in a seven-dayer for him.

“Frannie Collin, Matt Newman and Sam Hasler have gone in there - and, to be fair, they have done brilliantly - but that’s Zak’s position.

“We have decided to bring in to our midfield with Nods (Nodrrek Bobomurodov), as well, who is an explosive and exciting player. When he came on, you could see stuff was going to happen.

“All three of them coming in have done well, Jack Parter has taken to it straight away, so I’m well-happy with the three new signings.”

Warrilow was left slightly disappointed with Faversham’s first-half performance in front of a 481-strong crowd, even though playmaker Nathan Wood put them into a half-time lead in fine style.

Top scorer Tashi-Jay Kwayie doubled their advantage before man-of-the-match Wood added his second and substitute Collin rounded things off.

“We started really lethargic in the first half but we managed to get a really good goal to go 1-0 up at half-time,” Warrilow said.

“Everyone said ‘Did you go mad at half-time?’. I said ‘Not really.’. The players knew.

“But in the second half, we played some really good stuff and put the game to bed. We have got to go there in a couple of weeks’ time and, if we play the way we did in the first half, we’ll make it hard for ourselves.

“There was another good crowd, as well, and 4-0 is a good result because Tunbridge Wells have got loads of games in hand and, if I was them, I would still be eyeing a play-off place.”

It was a first league goal in nearly a month for forward Kwayie as Faversham now prepare to hit the road.

The Lilywhites, held to a goalless draw at Lydd on Wednesday despite the home team finishing with 10 players, travel to play-off chasing Erith & Belvedere this weekend, looking to do the double over them after they beat them 4-0 in September.

Warrilow said: “Tash had four shots at Glebe the weekend before [in a goalless draw] and, not just him, we weren’t hitting the target enough in general.

“But players and all teams go through certain spells in the season. It was a great goal on Saturday - a nice ball to Woody and a great pullback from him to Tash. Tash has had a great season, although it’s not over.

“Johan Caney-Bryan did well, as well. He got a bit of a rough booking so we had to look after him a bit.

"We have Danny Parish up there with Fran. He notched one on Saturday off the bench.

“If people come off, I don’t want any sulking from them because we have 11 cup finals to come. With the strength in depth we have got in the squad, players can make an impact off the bench.

“We have had some tough games on grass pitches and we have got a couple coming up. I’m not stupid, some people think we might not fancy it.

“But in the last two games on grass pitches, I think we have shown we will be up for it.”