Sittingbourne have lost star striker Kane Rowland just days before the new season.

Rowland, the club's player-of-the-year, has moved up a level to join Folkestone in the Bostik Premier.

He scored 23 goals last season and had committed his future to the Brickies.

But Invicta made an approach and Rowland decided to make the move.

Sittingbourne boss Aslan Odev said: "It came out of the blue. Kane was committed to us and did everything he could in pre-season but then Folkestone got in contact.

"He told me what had happened and that he was thinking about going.

"I always want my players to play at the highest level they can but at the same time I was trying to persuade him to stay.

"Me and the chairman had a meeting with him and gave him all the information we could about the direction the club is heading.

"We wanted him to stay but the lure of playing higher was too much.

"He didn't want to miss out and felt he might not get another chance to play higher.

"I always felt he would have done, I knew he'd go higher.

"I always knew he was going to move on at some point, whether it be now, the middle of the season or the end of the season.

"We wish him all the best. He's been a fantastic role model, the fans love him and I know he'll make it work at Folkestone."

Sittingbourne start the new Bostik South East season at Horsham on Saturday (3pm), with Odev working on a replacement.

He added: "We're on the hunt for somebody to fill the void.

"Strikers are the hardest players to sign, especially when they're like Kane and do so much more than just scoring goals."

Left-back Fabrice Blewordah has had passport issues back home in Sweden but should be available for the Horsham game.

Defender Reiss Crimmen is due to rejoin the squad after holidays and various commitments but may miss the opener.

Odev believes a new 20-team division will be wide-open this season.

He said: "There's three or four teams who are probably the favourites but it's anybody's game after that.

"It's all about who's had the best preparation, who's been coached and trained the right way. You're looking to tick as many boxes as you can.

"All the teams expect to be promoted at the start of the season.

"Everyone starts with a clean slate but it's important to be grounded and take it one game at a time."