Pre-season starts now for Chatham Town Women as they set about preparing for a fightback.

Relegation from the National League Southern Premier Division will leave them playing tier-four football next season in Division 1 South East. The plan is to bounce straight back up and the work’s already under way to make that happen.

Two games remain this season - against two sides in the top three - and manager Keith Boanas is looking at those games as perfect challenges for his squad, many of whom are looking to stay on.

“We’ve been training hard over the last couple of weeks,” said Boanas, as his side prepares for a trip to second-placed Hashtag United on Sunday.

“Quite a few of them have expressed a desire to stay, or that they are seriously considering it. The hard work starts now, so let’s get into good habits. Everything is geared towards next season.

“You couldn’t ask for better competition than two top-three sides. Hashtag won the National Cup, against the odds a bit with a great result against Newcastle United and also the Essex County Cup, so they have had a successful season.”

Chatham’s last game was on March 31, losing 3-0 at home to Cheltenham Town. They finish their season at home to ex-Championship side Rugby Borough on May 5, a team sitting in third place ahead of the weekend.

Boanas said: “They are two top-level pre-season games, some of these girls that are still here, if they definitely want to stay, have got to prove they want to stay and why, and even the ones leaving, if I select them then at the worst scenario they put themselves in the shop window. They should be giving everything because you never know who is watching you.

“We can’t make any guarantees but we will be doing everything we can to get at least two good performances, especially with the last game at home, with our awards straight after and those who are leaving can say their goodbyes.

“If we are going to build a side that can get promoted straight back up next year we need to know that we can compete.”

Boanas has already admitted the challenge at Chatham was tougher than expected and they could get relegated without winning a league game.

But the vastly-experienced coach has got the backing of the chairman Kevin Hake to rebuild and fight for promotion next season.

Boanas said: “Kevin could have easily said: ‘It hasn’t worked and you didn’t keep the promises that were made’ but he knows why, and I think that is the key thing.

“He is willing to support it to the same level and wants them to bounce straight back, I think I owe him that, the players certainly do and there will be some recruitment as well.”

Despite relegation, Chats are set to remain the highest-ranked Kent team in the women’s game as Dartford - who play tier-five football in the London & South East Premier Division look set to be pipped to the promotion spot by Dulwich Hamlet.

Boanas said: “Recruitment-wise, it should give us the edge over the better players, but we want to recruit some local girls as well, ones who have a bit of pride in who they are playing for and where they come from, which will include a few from the academy.

“One thing I want to make sure is that players want to play for the club, that they are the right personalities and the right characters from the start, and that they will give everything for Chatham Town.”