Reece Prestedge admits he has taken a leaf out of Margate player-assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh’s book in giving youth an opportunity.

Academy player Rory Sutcliffe will stay with Gate for the new season, having featured four times in attacking roles in last term’s successful Kent Senior Cup campaign, as well as one Isthmian Premier appearance off the bench.

Margate’s manager Prestedge is supported by coach Elliot Leveson and Greenhalgh, whose full-time job sees him run Dartford’s Academy.

Prestedge said: “Ben has, obviously, been in and around it for many years. He’s been quite successful.

“It would be silly not to use his contacts! We’re sort of taking a leaf out of his book on the Academy side of it.

“Rory’s been part of the Academy system. We’re just trying to bring in Academy players that have got potential to get into the first-team.

“It’s nice for him to get a bit of recognition as well.”

But defender Lewis Knight has left Margate. He initially went to Enfield Town on loan last October and remained there for the rest of the campaign.

Prestedge revealed he considered bringing him back when he first took the helm last term but Knight has now instead opted to move on for pastures new.

“Knighty sort of left in October,” he noted. “We did have conversations when we first took over about bringing him straight back.

“He wanted to stay with a team in and around the play-offs, which you cannot argue with.

“It was a bit in limbo at the end of the season. We wanted to have him back but he was listening to offers.

“By the time it came around, we didn’t have the budget for it.”

But, with Gate having returned for pre-season training at the weekend, the manager is comfortable with where his squad is.

“We’re pretty much set,” Prestedge said.

“We have got a few trialists in and we need to bring a bit of competition for places potentially with them.

“But I don’t need to stress about it too much. We’ve got the majority done.

“It’s more about who impresses or comes up in pre-season.

“We have got six or seven sessions before the first game.

“We’re quite big believers in the only way to get match fitness is from playing matches.

“Obviously, these sessions will allow players to get a base level of fitness.

“But once you have that base, then you need matches.”