Nikki Bull has urged Margate's supporters not to give up on the season just yet because he and the players certainly haven't.

The Gate boss says he has sensed a mood of pessimism among some Blues fans in the wake of the recent exodus of players from Hartsdown.

Michael Thalassitis, Elliott Buchanan, Yado Mambo, Daniel Akindayini and Adam Cash have all departed either permanently or temporarily as the club looks to reduce costs.

But Bull remains convinced his squad is good enough to be competitive in Vanarama National League South and says he and his players will relish trying to prove people wrong.

He said: “I was at the club quite a lot at the start of the month as we tried to sort things out and I had no end of supporters coming up to me asking 'Are we preparing for the Ryman now?'

"Some people are saying we're already certainties for relegation (because of what's happened) but that's not how we see it and it's up to us to prove them wrong.

"In many respects we are starting a new season and personally I feel so much better about things. My wife said to me last week you’ve got to start enjoying this or leave so I’ve decided just to embrace the situation.

“My season might not turn out to be what I hoped for or envisaged with the potential of the group we’d put together but it is what it is and now everyone knows what the (financial) situation is we can start moving forward. I’m certainly not writing off the season and nor are the players.”

Bull says Tuesday's 6-1 Kent Senior Cup win away to Ryman League Greenwich was a step in the right direction and he was pleased to see two of his three new strikers make an immediate impact.

Kane Rowland, signed on dual registration from Whitstable, scored twice after coming on as an early substitute, while former Bishop's Stortford man Jermaine Osei also netted after coming off the bench.

Bull has also signed 19-year-old former Epsom & Ewell and Windsor front man Keanu Williams, who was an unused sub against Greenwich.

The Gate boss is still looking to strengthen his squad and hopes to bring in a keeper ahead of the weekend trip to Truro, who are 16th, one place higher than the Blues.

He added: “There’ll be players playing in the Ryman Premier and below who are not driven by money. They just want that opportunity and it’s down to me to bring in players with the right attitude and mentality.”

Skipper Luke Moore serves the last game of his three-match suspension while full-back Chris Sessegnon should be fit after being taken off as a precaution against Greenwich.