Whitstable Town boss Nicky Southall is anxious to start planning for the new season, and hopes to persuade striker Ashley Miller to be a vital component of next season’s team.

The Oystermen finished a largely frustrating campaign on a high with a 3-0 cruise at already-relegated Eastbourne Town on Saturday, to secure a 20th-placed finish, eight points clear of the drop-zone.

Two of the goals came from former Gillingham youngster Ashley Miller, 19, who made it eight goals in the 11 games at the Belmont following his release from Priestfield and former Gills assistant boss Southall admitted: “Ashley showed exactly what we wanted him to do when we brought him here.

“He’s always been an extraordinarily talented kid but he lost his way a bit the past few years.

“We asked him to come to Whitstable, play some games, score some goals and get back to enjoying his football. He’s certainly delivered.”

Southall is hoping to have been given an indication of the board’s plans and budget for next season before the club’s presentation night on Friday (May 9), and hoped he will be able to offer Miller an extended stay.

“I’m still waiting to hear what the club wants to do next season. There’s no time to waste, players want to sort out their futures and we have to decide the list of players we want to retain.

“Ashley’s an exciting prospect and hopefully I’ll be able to persuade him to stay. He’s talked about the possibility of a scholarship in the USA but if he does that he’ll be out of the picture for a couple of years."