Nikki Bull says much of the credit for the signing of Daniel Akindayini is down to a man most Margate fans probably don't know exists.

Boss Bull bought David Lee on board at Hartsdown as a recruitment consultant shortly after succeeding Terry Brown as Gate manager in mid-December.

The pair played together at Aldershot Town and Bull revealed it was his former Shots team-mate who first alerted him to the talent of Brighton under-21 striker Akindayini.

Bull, who secured the 19-year-old on a 28-day loan on Thursday, explained: "As soon as I got the job (at Margate) I got in touch with David to see if he would be interested in doing some scouting and recruitment for us.

"I felt it was something a club at our level should be doing and he is a close friend as well as being someone whose opinion I trust very much.

"One of the first things he did was provide me with a list of players in each position who he felt could come in and do a job.

"He said right from the start that we should look at Daniel. I've seen him once but David has seen him on many occasions and said we should go and get him.

"We have and I am thankful to Brighton for trusting us with his development particularly as they are a top six Championship club and we're mid-table in Vanarama National League South."

Midfielder Lee's own professional career started as a trainee at Tottenham and took in Southend, Hull City, Brighton and Bristol Rovers before injury forced him to retire at Aldershot.

He juggles his role at Margate with his full-time job as a football agent and has players on his books from the Premier League down.

Bull added: "He probably goes to two or three matches every day and is always providing me with team lists. His experience and contacts books is second to none."

Bull plans to give Akindayini his debut at home to Basingstoke on Saturday and the Gate boss - who is still to taste defeat at Hartsdown - is looking forward to seeing what he and 10-goal top scorer Freddie Ladapo can do.

He added: "Daniel fits the mould of player we want, he's young, he's quick and he puts himself about. He also works hard.

"I'm really excited to see what he and Freddie can do. Freddie's been doing a lot of the work up front on his own but I think having the two of them in the side will give Freddie more freedom to score goals."

Basingstoke arrive at Hartsdown lying second from bottom in the table with just two away wins all season, but Bull says they are an improved side following the appointment in November of Michael Gilkes as boss, and he won't be taking them lightly.

He added: "They're a very dangerous side going forward and I think the new manager has given them a new lease of life."