Ernie Batten says Sheppey United would save money on wages if they won promotion to the Isthmian League.

Costs normally rise the higher you go but the opposite applies to Sheppey in their bid to move up a level.

That’s because of the premium the Ites must pay players to drop down to Southern Counties East.

Striker Warren Mfula and wingers Danny Leonard and Harrison Carnegie have all moved on this summer, while midfielder Connor Wilkins faces months out with a knee injury.

They all need replacing - and it’s not easy, with just a few weeks until the opening league game at Tunbridge Wells on July 31.

“You have to pay a premium to get quality players,” said Sheppey manager Batten. “I’m shocked by the level of offers and the amount of money involved at Step 5 football.

“Because there’s two teams going up this season a few clubs have decided to have a tilt.

“To get the necessary quality, you generally have to bring in players from higher levels.

“You’ve got to get them interested and convince them it’s a great project and worth stepping down because it will only be temporary because we’re going up.

“These players are on good money to start with, so you’ve got to match that and then better it to ask them to step down.

“You either get on the merry-go-round or you stay off it.

“Biting the bullet is the right phrase because I do believe that once you get up to Step 4 we would maintain a team at that level on a lot less money than we’re having to fork out now.

“We went to Margate on Saturday, I was talking to their manager (Jay Saunders) and he’s got players in Step 3 on less than some of the players get in our league.

“Players generally want to play at the highest level they can, so what you’re effectively saying is we will compensate you to play for us at Step 5 and it’ll be temporary because we’re going up this season.

“I used to think the facilities we could offer would attract players but I believe that’s only a small factor now because money talks more than ever.

“We’re getting our players’ heads turned by these offers as well and then you’ve got to match it to keep hold of a player that was perfectly happy prior to any approach or the reality is you will probably lose them.

“We’ve got irons in the fire but I’m finding it extremely difficult in the current market, trying to get the necessary quality after losing some important players.

“On the flipside, we’ve probably got the best defence we’ve ever had, and if you’re strong at the back, it’s a good start.”

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