Ryan Maxwell says Sittingbourne’s new training arrangements have helped his summer transfer business.

The Brickies will be training in both Kent and Essex this season, making it easier to attract players to the club.

They will be based either side of the Dartford Tunnel, holding Tuesday sessions in Thurrock and Thursdays at the old Fleet Leisure site in Northfleet, which has just been redeveloped.

Former Hornchurch utility man Alex Bentley is the latest new face at Woodstock and, like other Essex-based signings, the chance to train close to home was a factor in getting the deal done.

“We had to look at where we were trying to attract players from,” said Brickies boss Maxwell.

“We’ll be at a place in Thurrock one night a week and the other night at the brand-new facility at the old Fleet Leisure, which I’m looking forward to working at.

“Players who might say they can’t make it to Sittingbourne, you’re able to say, hold on a minute, we’re in Thurrock on a Tuesday and just over the bridge on a Thursday, and that changes things.

“Potential targets, who otherwise wouldn’t have signed, it’s opened up opportunities to get them to the football club.”

Bentley, 33, is a significant signing for Sittingbourne as Maxwell closes in on completing his squad.

He played almost 300 games for Hornchurch over seven years and played against Sittingbourne for Cray Valley in Isthmian South East last season.

“I’m delighted to sign Alex,” said Maxwell. “He’s a player I nearly signed at Braintree.

“I’ve always been a fan. I’ve played against him a number of times and watched him a number of times and he’s always been a consistent performer.

“He’s kept himself super-fit, he’s very professional and he knows what it takes to win, which are characteristics I want at the club.

“He had a few clubs in for him but a number of factors were important for him.

“He’s got a baby on the way and he didn’t want to travel to certain clubs that were interested in him.

“Where we train now is quite accessible to him and we’re quite flexible if he needs to miss the odd session when the baby comes.

“We’re human-beings. That might be a stumbling block for some clubs but not for us. We’ll work with that.

“One of the main reasons I wanted to sign him was because he’s such a consistent performer in so many different positions.

“I’ve seen him play centre-midfield, wider areas, right-back, left-back, defensive-midfield and he can play centre-back as well.

“It’s great to have that in your squad. It might mean you don’t have to make a sub, you can just make a tactical change instead.

“I haven’t nailed down a position for him because he plays equally well in in so many different positions.”

Bentley is also among the candidates to captain the Brickies, who reported back for pre-season last night.

Joe Ellul had been set to retain the armband before joining Isthmian South East rivals Ramsgate last month.

Maxwell said: “Sometimes you get one stand-out candidate but this time there’s a number of players who could do it.

“You’ve got obvious ones, like Toch Singh and Alex Bentley, who are very capable, and then others like Bagasan Graham, who’s been around and is a brilliant player, very consistent.

“There’s also Bobby Mason, who’s a very experienced keeper and a great character, so there’s a lot to think about.”