Nikki Bull says he is relishing the prospect of three festive derbies even though he suspects Margate's tough run of fixtures may have put off some managers applying for the job he eventually got.

Gate host second-placed Maidstone United at Hartsdown Park on Boxing Day and then travel to seventh-placed Dartford on Monday, December 28, before heading to the Gallagher Stadium for the return game with Stones on Saturday, January 2.

That trio of fixtures is followed by a home game with another promotion-chasing side Maidenhead - currently ninth - on January 9, and Bull says he has been told Margate's testing run of games either side of the new year may have scared off some candidates for the manager's job left vacant by Terry Brown's sacking on December 5.

Bull, whose reign as Gate boss began with an encouraging 1-0 win over sixth-placed Gosport Borough on Saturday, said: "It's a huge period and I've had some tough phone calls over the past few days from people I respect in football basically telling me I've only got the job because a new manager doesn't want it for those five games (the three Kent derbies, plus Gosport and Maidenhead) because they don't want to get off to a bad start."

Bull says he will treat each of the holiday games on their merits and expects his side to show the same determination which helped defeat a buoyant Gosport side who had won their previous four league matches.

He remains adamant that the players signed by previous manager Brown are good enough to keep the Gate in Vanarama National League South but he admits he may have to alter the balance of his squad in the new year.

The manager, whose side are 18th at the moment, said: "I don't believe this squad needs much tinkering with but we do have a very unbalanced squad.

"For the Gosport game I had five defenders to choose from, 10 midfielders and two strikers so we're very lopsided and there are midfielders here who would probably be playing at nearly every other club (in the division).

"Over Christmas, with the amount of games we've got I'm expecting to pick up injuries and so for me it's about the group.

"It's about all of us, those that start, those who come in, those who don't and those who are in the stands.

"Everyone is in it together and they're all going to be needed. I am a bit short up front and a bit overloaded in midfield but if the boys keep performing like they did against Gosport there's no need for me to get in anyone else."

With Bull having stepped down from playing David Hunt was given the captain's armband against Gosport, but the midfielder was substituted at half-time after rolling his ankle and the manager may need to check on his fitness ahead of the Boxing Day game.