Craig Coles intends to draw upon previous experience as he helps Whitstable boss Marcel Nimani build a squad strong enough to compete for honours.

Coles and Nimani were part of the coaching staff at Sheppey which claimed a unique quadruple in the 2021/22 season.

Now at Whitstable - where Coles is Nimani’s No.2 - they’re plotting to build on a strong finish after ending up fifth in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

Although they have kept hold of their first-choice back five and young right-back Ed May, Coles didn’t rule out further defensive additions this summer.

He said: “If we’re able to get other players in to boost the squad, obviously, we’ll try and do that.

“The biggest thing for us is we want to get promoted this season and, ultimately, you need a squad to do that.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have 10 or 11 very, very good first-team players. But ultimately, they’re not always going to be the ones that win you games.

“From our previous experience when we were at our previous club, the squad that we had was the reason why we ended up getting success.

“You’ve only got to look at the likes of Chatham who were in Step 4 the year just gone.

“The reason why they were so successful wasn’t necessarily because they had nine, 10 or 11 players that won them it [the league]. It was the squad that won them it.

“If we can have a competitive squad, where everyone’s competing for places, that makes it a little bit better for us, as well.

“You don’t want players to turn up week in, week out, and go ‘Ah well, I know I’m going to be starting’. Although, sometimes, it’s good for certain players to have that.”

Whitstable are in talks with potential signings but Coles conceded it can be a challenge to get them to commit as they weigh up their options.

“It’s difficult this early to get people to commit - because players are players,” he continued.

“I completely understand, they want to see what the highest-level club is that they can get in or what the best offer is.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got players that we’ve targeted, we’ve got players that we’re speaking to, and we’ve got players that we are meeting up with.

“It’s just a case of taking it step by step.”

Midfielders Harry Gamble, Josh Oliver, Liam Gillies, Harry O’Donnell, Gus Barnes and Neil Spencer have become the latest to commit to stay alongside young prospects Caoilte Deakin, Zack Jennings and Jacob Couzens.