Sittingbourne are holding talks with up to eight potential new signings this week.

The Brickies don’t yet know what league they will be playing in next season but the management are pressing on regardless.

Right-back Ryan Cooper has departed for Hythe but 10 of last season’s squad are already on contract and a handful more are coming back for pre-season, which starts on June 29, to try and win a place in the squad.

Ward said: “We’re meeting with a few people at Woodstock this week and at the moment we’re planning for the Ryman League South, unless we get told differently.

“I’ve read what’s going on but just kept out of it. We’re not sure what division we’re going to be playing in because Thurrock played an ineligible player, which has absolutely nothing to do with us but it puts us in a difficult position.

“There are a few down in Thanet (where joint managers Jim and Danny also live) who aren’t happy (that we could be in the north) but I’ve told them that if we get promoted to the Premier, which is the plan, then we’ll have to travel then so we would just have to get on with it.”