MARGATE manager Chris Kinnear has agreed terms with three more players, with one squad member being placed on the transfer list.

John Keister, Ian Pullman and Paul Abbot have all agreed contracts, while experienced midfielder/defender Simon Beard is on the transfer list.

Kinnear said: “Unfortunately, because of wage budgeting which is now strictly enforced by the Conference, we are going to have to let Simon go.”

He faces a selection dilemma in attack for the opening Nationwide Conference game of season at Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Leon Braithwaite and Phil Collins, whose goals fired Gate into the Conference three years ago, both left during the summer.

Proven Conference goalscorers Warren Patmore, formerly with Yeovil and Rushden, and Che Stadhart, Gravesend’s leading marksman for the past two seasons, have joined during the close season.

Frenchman Jean-Michel Sigere and youngster Ian Pulman are also vying for one of the attacking roles.

Gate face a tough start against Shrewsbury who were relegated from the Football League last season. The Shrews have a new manager in Jimmy Quinn and many people believe they will become the first club in more than 10 years to bounce back into Division 3 at the first attempt.

Gate follow this with the visit on Tuesday of newly-promoted Aldershot to Dover’s Hover-speed Stadium, where they are starting the season while redevelopment work continues at Hartsdown Park.

Kinnear said: “It is a difficult start but it has really strengthened up because of all the big clubs that have come in.”

Kinnear has decided not to pursue his interest in former Charlton defender Eddie Youds, while New Zealand captain Chris Zoricich could return to Gate in a few weeks.