Sittingbourne’s upward momentum is making recruitment easier and landing striker Elliott Romain is a sign of how far they’ve come.

Manager Ryan Maxwell admitted he doubted he’d get a player like Romain to sign for the club but an excellent past season, coupled with big ambitions, means more doors are opening.

Romain’s played National League football at Dagenham and had spells at both Dartford and Ebbsfleet higher up the football pyramid. He’s now hoping to find success with the Brickies.

Boss Maxwell said: “Elliott was a player I spoke to a few times when I was manager at Braintree but couldn’t get him at the time. I’ve always been a fan.

“If I am honest, I never thought I would be signing him at Sittingbourne. I wouldn’t have got him here last year but the season we have had has made people stand up and take notice.

“The recruitment is 10 times easier than it was last year, but it is about getting the right people and he is a very good character.

“He hasn’t had an enjoyable season (at Horsham) for whatever reason. I didn’t think it would be possible, because he is a very sought-after player, but it turns out that what we can offer him - in terms of what it is we offer, not finances, suited him.

“He is hungry to be here and I am delighted, over the moon to get Elliott.

“I have managed against him. I had seen him play numerous times and he has been a handful for everyone. Nobody likes to play against Elliott and I am delighted he is a Sittingbourne player.

“We have set some targets and he knows why he is here. The reason for him signing here is to push this club in the right direction. We are all champing at the bit and trying to get a promotion here, that is what he is here for.”

As a senior player, Maxwell believes 32-year-old Romain will also be a great influence around his squad.

“He will be looked up to by the other players,” added Maxwell. “There are players here that are also very excited to have him.

“He is not just a player, he’s a proper person, I have got to know him over the last few years. I can’t wait to manage him. He has that fire in him that I certainly have, I can relate to that, it is a great trait when managed correctly and I am really looking forward to it.”

The club were set to announce a new goalkeeper this week after Bobby Mason opted to leave due to personal reasons. The journey to and from his Essex home had taken its toll.

On his departure, Mason said: “We achieved play-offs but hope they can go further next season. Great people and a great club but with a young family I need to be closer to home next season.”

Maxwell said: “We’re gutted to lose Bobby, he did great for us but that’s non-league football, you understand it and we wish him all the best.”

The Brickies boss has been busy working on the players he wants to keep for next season. Captain and supporters’ player-of-the-year Bagasan Graham and players’ player Luke Woodward are among them, along with top scorer Mitchell May and defender Donvieve Jones.

Chris Arthur, Mike Turner and Ayman El-Mogharbel have also been announced as being part of next season’s challenge.

Maxwell said: “I don’t cry over spilt milk but we had a lot of injuries (at the end of last season).

“We have got players coming back who didn’t feature for months and they will be back in pre-season, like new signings.

“We lost Luke Woodward for the last eight or nine games, he got (manager and players’) player-of-the-year and John-Baptiste (Fischer), a fantastic player, he’s back in pre-season and we missed him greatly.

“There are others too but we have the captain tied down, who is an exceptional player at the level and we’re delighted to tie him down, Donvieve is also a brilliant player.

“We have tied down a lot of the good ones, we have a great nucleus and will be adding a few more to that.”