Margate manager Nikki Bull has strengthened his defensive options by signing a 6ft 3in defender who was previously on Charlton Athletic's books.

Yado Mambo was at the Valley from 2009-2013 and also enjoyed loan spells with AFC Wimbledon and Shrewsbury Town as well as playing at Dover Athletic, Welling United and Ebbsfleet United.

Injury disrupted the 24-year-old's time at his last club, Hayes and Yeading, but Gate boss Bull says the London-born defender is determined to make up for lost time, so much so the player tweeted news of his signing before the club's official announcement!

He added: "It takes a lot to impress me at times but when I sat down and met Yado for the first time I was totally bowled over by him as a person, just in terms of him knowing where he wants to go and how he wants to get there.

"When you look into the whites of someone's eyes and know they will do anything to get back to where they want to be. That's what I saw when I looked at Yado.

"He's had two separate injuries, both of which have kept him out for a period and he feels he's got a point to prove to certain people. He knows the best way to do that is with performances on the pitch.

"He's been up to St George's Park (at Burton) re-habbing himself which shows his determination. He's a beast of a boy, big and strong, and no-one I've spoken to had a bad word to say about him.

"I talked to Terry Brown (the (former Margate manager) and Stuart Cash who had him on loan at AFC Wimbledon and they said he was fantastic. He's another young, hungry player who wants to progress."

Mambo started his career in Charlton's youth academy, and after being released by the Addicks was struck by a serious knee injury while on trial with Colchester United

He subsequently joined Ebbsfleet in February 2014, and had a brief spell at Crabble before joining Chelmsford City and then Hayes.