Margate have beaten off competition from a host of clubs to sign defender Manny Parry after his release by Maidstone United.

The centre-half had a number of offers on the table within days of leaving the Gallagher earlier this month but has opted to join Nikki Bull's revolution at Hartsdown.

The 22-year-old was a virtual ever-present as Stones won promotion to the Vanarama National League through the play-offs last season.

He made 46 appearances after signing from Grays last summer, and was a big crowd favourite as Maidstone went more than 10 hours without conceding a league goal.

He had hoped to win a new deal at the Gallagher but the arrival of former Norwich City youngster Kevin Lokko, who was with Welling United last season, plus boss Jay Saunders wanting a bit more experience at the higher level, led to his release.

Parry, who stands 6ft3, began his career with Millwall and Stoke City, where he learned his trade alongside the likes of Ryan Shawcross, Matt Upson, Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate.

He had loan spells at Conference clubs Maidenhead United, Nuneaton Town, Weston-super-Mare and Worcester City before joining Grays whose website profile described him as 'a strong imposing central defender who possesses a good turn of pace.'

Parry had been courted by clubs both in the Vanarama National League and Vanarama South, and is the third defender to join Margate this week, Bull having already brought in two left-backs, former Luton Town and Dartford man Danny Fitzsimons, and ex-Bromley player Aaron Tumwa, who was previously on the books of Watford and Blackburn Rovers.

In his busiest week of transfer activity so far the Gate boss also secured former Millwall defensive midfielder Ali Fuseini on his release from Bromley as well as re-signing forward Luke Moore.

However, the Blues decided not to go through with the signing of Mike Fondop-Talom after Billericay claimed they were in fact owed a fee for the 22-year-old striker.