Player-manager Ben Greenhalgh believes there is plenty of positivity around Margate ahead of the new season.

Gate return to Step 4 this term, having suffered Isthmian Premier relegation, and are set to start at home against East Grinstead on Saturday.

“It feels a lot more positive,” said Greenhalgh, who recalled being involved in last campaign’s opening-day 2-1 home win against Whitehawk.

“It doesn’t feel like we were relegated last season.

“We have got positive fans. The players can take credit for that because they’re the ones putting the performances in.

“Don’t get me wrong, we haven’t got any points yet.

“We will try playing attacking and entertaining football - but our main objective is to win games.

“It’s going to be difficult to win every game after last season.

“There will be dips throughout the season - as a team and individually - but that’s when you need to stick together.

“I know, last year, we won our first game at home. I think it was one of the first times they have won their first home game of the year for a while.

“If we keep the performance levels high, we will get results but, if we allow them to drop, that’s when results will drop, as well.”

East Grinstead finished third-bottom last season - only five points clear of the bottom two.

Greenhalgh noted: “They’re young, energetic and they will be up for it.

“They had a good game against Glebe in the FA Cup (winning 2-0) last weekend. Glebe are a good outfit.

“But we’re going to be at home and we’re looking forward to that.

“We know all of these teams will not be easy to play.”

Margate finished their run of warm-up fixtures with a 2-1 weekend victory at last term’s Isthmian South Central play-off semi-finalists Westfield.

Among the goals was Kai Garande, the defender having agreed terms after a successful trial which included a stunning strike against Whitstable last month. Midfielder Harvey Brand was also on target.

“Kai was the one we spoke about a few weeks ago,” Greenhalgh confirmed.

“Obviously, he was a trialist. I helped to get him to Hythe last year and that worked really well for him.

“We have got Rossi (Ross Craig) at left-back and Harrison (Hatfull) at right-back. There might be games where we play people in different positions and different shapes but it’s not feeling like, from my perspective, we’re going to let someone down.

“It’s more about testing people.

“It’s good. We need to keep it like that.”

Young keeper Reece Hobbs is now also a Margate player after leaving the Academy at Dartford, where he had worked under Greenhalgh, to offer Tom Wray competition for the No.1 spot.

Greenhalgh said: “It’s very difficult in non-league to have a No.1 and a No.2.

“I know a lot of clubs have a No.2 who, really, isn’t a No.2 - if their No.1 gets injured, they will bring someone in, rather than play them. But Reece will push Tom.

“Reece knows his role but he will play plenty of games and help to bring that competition we want.”