Sittingbourne boss Nick Davis has called for his players to show greater commitment this season.

Davis will run with a small squad in Bostik South and can’t afford to have players missing for non-footballing reasons.

He accepts work comes first at this level but still wants players to be serious about their sport.

Davis said: "I’ve stressed to everyone the importance of commitment.

"We had it last year. Five went away at Christmas, when we were one point off the play-offs, and it killed us.

"If we do that this year, we literally won’t have a side. We’ve got to be extra committed.

"I’d rather them miss pre-season now than during the season when the games matter.

"It is a long season and it’s a big commitment for them. Circumstances happen, don’t they? People work and that’s the priority.

"We’d all like football to be our No.1 priority but it doesn’t pay the bills."

Sittingbourne travel to Grays on Saturday for their final pre-season friendly ahead of the league opener at Chipstead on August 12.

Davis said: "I’ve not been able to play my best XI yet. People have been away or unavailable.

"When you miss three of your 17, it’s hard. We haven’t got the strength in depth like some of the other sides have.

"I’m hoping to have everyone available on Saturday for the first time.

"The back four came together on Saturday (when Sittingbourne drew 1-1 with Sheppey) and I thought they were immense.

"Laurence Ball’s been away for a weekend and it was only the second time him and Ben Gorham have played together at the back. They’ve struck up a great partnership."

Read the full story in the Sittingbourne News Extra.