Sheppey Rugby Club's new coach Peter King is predicting exciting times ahead at The Ditch.

After taking over at the end of last season, King, pictured, is determined to build on the good work of his predecessor Frank Davis which saw Sheppey produce a barnstorming second half to their Kent 1 campaign and win the Kent Salver.

King is already a familiar face at the club having played for Sheppey for several seasons before joining Deal & Betteshanger two years ago during a distinguished playing career which a spell as Canterbury captain.

But, now 39, King has decided the time is right to hang up his boots and concentrate on coaching a Sheppey side who look to be on upward curve after several years in the doldrums.

King said: "I intend to carry on the good work that Frank started in developing young players at the club, although we will be using a different playing system under which every player in the team will know exactly what they are expected to do.

"I think that is the start of an exciting new era at the club and with the amount of quality players we now have, I’m going to have some selection headaches about who to leave out – which is not something that they are used to here."

King has persuaded his former Deal & Betteshanger team-mate Martin Robinson to join Sheppey this season, which the coach describes as "a major coup."

He has also acquired Dave Smith, a second row forward from Aylesford, while Sheppey’s two overseas players from last season – New Zealand duo Dylan Davies and Tudz Kautai – have already committed to a second year at The Ditch.