Jay Saunders is aiming high in his first season as Tonbridge manager.

Angels start the National South campaign at relegated Weymouth on Saturday, with Saunders targeting a play-off place.

Having seen similar-sized clubs in Eastbourne and Chippenham break into the top seven last season, the new Angels boss wants to show ambition.

“We’re as big a club as them, so why can’t we have a go?” said Saunders.

“It’s going to be really tough and with a new squad it can go one way or the other but I think you have to set a target.

“I’m not silly, we’re not going to win the league, but why can’t we aim for the play-offs?

“If you’d asked Eastbourne and Chippenham last year, they probably wouldn’t have expected to get in the play-offs, but they did, so there’s no reason why we can’t be one of those sides that creeps in there.”

It’s been a summer of change at Tonbridge, with a new manager, a new squad and the club’s 3G pitch nearing completion.

Fans saw the progress with the pitch during an open day at Longmead on Sunday, where Saunders also took questions from supporters and introduced his summer signings.

The new boss has made his mark since succeeding long-serving Steve McKimm and hopes to deliver a team fans can be proud of.

“Any manager who comes in will tell you they want to put their own stamp on it,” said Saunders.

“I just felt we needed to go a little bit younger, a little bit more legs.

“At the end of the day time will tell whether that’s the right way to do it. We could go and struggle.

“We tried to bring a lot more energy and pace about the side and sometimes it just needs that.

“We’ve signed players I feel have got good futures in the game, they’re hungry, they’ve got that desire and hopefully they come in and prove it.

“We’ve only kept four or five from last year, so it’s a big turnover of players, and is it going to work straight away?

“Maybe not. Maybe it will take a little while but we’ve had a good pre-season, and hopefully we can hit the ground running.

“We’ve brought in a head of recruitment, we’re setting up our scouting, so that will help as well, that was something the club didn’t have.

“Hopefully we can get a side together the supporters enjoy coming to watch and. At the end of the day, I want to do well and I want the club to do well.

“When clubs switch to 3G, the community start coming along and it can really spark something.”

Summer signing Ben Swift misses out at Weymouth through injury, a match that has been switched to give Tonbridge more time to complete their pitch works.

A home game would have been nice after a pre-season on the road but an awayday against one of the promotion favourites has its advantages.

“They’re a big club who will want to bounce back from relegation,” said Saunders.

“I’m quite happy we’re going there for the first game, I think it takes a little bit of pressure off us away from home.

“It’s a good opportunity for us and we can go there and enjoy it.”

Tonbridge ended pre-season with a 1-1 draw at Wingate & Finchley last Saturday, Joe Turner scoring a penalty.