A Whitstable Town legend will be a noticeable absentee as they begin their preparations for the new season.

Former Ramsgate defender Jake Mackenzie, now 30, has decided to hang up his boots.

The local lad moved past 250 club appearances last term but the young dad had started to struggle balancing playing with his work and family commitments.

“He has retired,” confirmed Whitstable boss Jamie Coyle ahead of the Southern Counties East Premier Division side’s return to pre-season training this Saturday.

“That’s a shame because he’s a bit of a club legend. He’s a player I rate highly.

“But in terms of training two nights a week and games, he said it became a bit too much for him. We had a really honest conversation.

“If he ever wants to come back or changes his mind later on in the season, the door is always open for him. He’s a good player and a good man, so we’ll miss that in the changing room.

“But he gave us enough notice and we have brought a player from a higher league in to replace him.”

While Whitstable are set to make some late changes to their squad for the 2024/25 campaign this week, with their first friendly against newly-promoted Deal on Tuesday, July 2, around the corner, Coyle is excited to get to work.

He said: “We have had quite a few players come and go, and we have lost (midfielder) Liam Gillies to Sheppey. They came in for him and he’s decided to go back there.

“Josh Williams has gone to Hemel and we’ve just lost (goalkeeper) Jordan Perrin to Sevenoaks. His old manager, Marcel (Nimani), has just joined Sevenoaks and has taken him over there.

“Teams announce retained lists but, if players are not on contract, they’re only a phone call away from joining someone else.

“But we did a lot of recruiting before I went away to the Seniors World Cup.

“We got players that wanted to be part of the project and we have got three or four more to announce later this week.

“We have got a whole back five that have previously played together somewhere.

“There’s also some exciting young players - like Josh Oliver - but we have added a bit more experience around them in people like Michael West, Finn O’Mara, Jerson Dos Santos and players like that.

“We’re lucky that myself and Matt (Longhurst, his No.2) have extensive contacts. It’s good.

“I’m just really looking forward to seeing all the new faces and getting them to gel together in time for the new season.”

Aaron Lorentson has been appointed Whitstable’s new under-23s boss, having held that position at Bearsted last season, and will be assisted by coaches Luke Trimmings and Mason East.