Ramsgate manager Steve Lovell is more than happy with his new goalkeeper.

Josh Bexon, a former Rams youth-team player, is back at Southwood after leaving Dover.

The 24-year-old joined Southend from Ramsgate and went on to have loan spells with Austrian club Kitzbuhel, Harlow and Cambridge City before joining Whites last summer

He made 12 appearances as Andy Hessenthaler’s side were relegated from the National League and has gone full circle after returning to Thanet.

“Josh is a good keeper,” said Lovell, whose side started their pre-season campaign with a 3-2 home win against Kennington on Saturday.

“He needs to get fitter - goalkeepers aren’t the best runners - but he knows that and that’s what pre-season is for.

“I spoke to Hessy about him, he liked him, he said he was unlucky not to get more games for Dover last year, and he said he’d be ideal for us.

“We’ve brought him in and he’s done well in training. We needed a keeper and I’m really pleased to get him.”

Bexon can count on the experience of Jamie Coyle in front of him after Lovell confirmed the veteran defender is on board for the new Isthmian South East season.

Coyle turned 39 last month but remains as fit as ever, playing on successive days over the weekend.

He played the full match as former club Maidstone held a testimonial for chief executive Bill Williams on Friday night and completed the first half as Rams raced into a three-goal lead against Kennington before wholesale changes.

“He was only going to play half an hour on Friday and ended up playing the whole match!” said Lovell.

“He’ll have another good year with us, he’s enjoying it here and he’s great for me and great for the boys.

“He’s still fit, he looks as if he’s got another 10 years in him the way he plays.

“I’ve known Coyley a long time, it was a no-brainer for him to stay on. He keeps the boys together and he’s a big help for me on the field.

“He’s a good leader, he understands the game, he still loves the game and he looks after himself.

“I’ll ask his advice on certain things, me and Mark (Lovell, assistant manager) will always ask him things about players because he knows them more than we do at the moment.

“Me and Mark have got a way we want to play, he understands that and he’s part of that because he likes the style we want to play.”

Ramsgate host Potters Bar tonight (Wednesday, 7.30pm) before welcoming a Gillingham XI to Southwood on Saturday (3pm).

Lovell said: “I think Gillingham will bring an under-23 side, with a couple of first-teamers who most probably won’t play against Portsmouth, to get them minutes.

“Whoever they bring down, it’ll be a good game for the boys.”