James Rogers says he needed no persuasion to join Margate's Vanarama National League South relegation fight and is already thinking ahead to next season.

Midfielder Rogers joined the Blues on Friday after leaving National League side Maidstone and went straight in as skipper for Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Whitehawk.

The loss was Margate's 17th in a row, leaving the bottom club 12 points from safety, but former Dartford and Dover man Rogers says he is looking at the bigger picture at Hartsdown. A planned takeover of the club is due to be announced later this week.

The 32-year-old, who admitted being given the captain's armband by new manager Steve Watt was a surprise, explained: "Jay (Maidstone boss Jay Saunders) told me Margate were interested and I wasn't actually in the team at Maidstone.

"With them going full-time next year I just thought it was a good opportunity for me to get out and earn myself a deal for next year at Margate.

"I know the club, I was here six or seven years ago. Obviously it's got new owners coming in now and they want to go in the right direction. It wasn't really a case of them persuading me, I was willing to get on board.

"I don't want to be here just until the end of the season. I've come here because I'm interested in the project they've got going and I want to be part of that.

"Obviously Steve (new manager Watt) wants to be part of that as well. It's not just a short term thing for me, I want to be here long term."

Rogers has won six promotions in his last nine seasons but he has also seen the other side of the coin with Dover so is prepared for what lies ahead over the next 12 games, starting with Tuesday's home match against fifth-placed Chelmsford (kick-off 7.45pm).

He added: "When I was younger I had a few battles against relegation with Dover, when they were struggling with money so I've seen both sides and they are completely different.

"When you're down there you're not getting results because confidence is low and people sometimes make the wrong decisions because they're a little bit rushed, but the boys work hard, we've got some good players and I think things will only get better."