Manager Matt Wyatt accepts players will use Sittingbourne as a stepping stone.

The Brickies have packed their squad with hungry young players ahead of the new Ryman League Division 1 South season.

Striker Joe Taylor secured a move to Conference South Farnborough on the back of his efforts for Bourne and Wyatt knows other players will get chances to move on if they impress.

He said: “Me and Nick (Davis, joint-manager) aren’t silly. We realise the good kids we’ve brought in are using Sittingbourne as a stepping stone. With the greatest of respect to our club, they will be looking to go on to bigger things and I don’t blame them.

“We can help each other. If they attract attention from other clubs, it means they will have given us good service and we’re doing well.”

Brickies have strengthened their squad by signing left-back Gary Webb from Bromley.
He’s the latest addition in a list of 13 summer signings.

Other new arrivals are defenders Cameron George, Dave Raggett and Curtis George, midfielders Dan Keyte, Brett Ince, Daniel Hughes, Ollie Brown and Beau Taylor, and strikers David Abe, Harry Smith, Matt Martin and Joe Lester.

The squad will be cut before the opening league match on August 9 but there will still be plenty of competition for places, given the players’ versatility.

Sittingbourne lost 4-1 at home to Conference Premier Welling in their first pre-season friendly of the summer on Tuesday, Steven Okoh scoring. They continue their pre-season preparations at home to Ryman League Division 1 South play-off winners Leatherhead on Saturday and at Seven Acre & Sidcup next Tuesday.