Manager Richard Styles has revealed Jake Mackenzie turned down higher-league interest in favour of extending his Whitstable stay.

Versatile defender Mackenzie is sticking around at The Belmont while ex-Canterbury City captain Adam Turton and fellow midfielder James Jeffrey have agreed to join the Southern Counties East Premier Division club.

Mackenzie started his career at Gillingham but he has now made nearly 200 appearances for Whitstable.

“He’s a key player we identified even before we got the job that we wanted to keep on board,” said Styles.

“He loves the club. He has been a hell of a servant and has had some tough times with the club.

“But it’s a good opportunity to flip that and have some success now.

“He had interest from clubs one and two leagues above but has decided to stay.

“He’s a cracking lad and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

With experienced goalkeeper Dan Eason, defender Tom Mills, midfielder Danny Walder and striker Harry Goodger staying as well, the Oystermen have no shortage of leaders.

Styles admitted: “We have probably got the most balanced squad since me and Dan [Morrin, his assistant] got into management.

“We have either been really young or really old and, last year, we didn’t really have many leaders [at Tunbridge Wells]. Players either have it or they don’t in terms of leadership qualities.

“At Whitstable, there are players who are good leaders but also some good youngsters and it’s about using that as well.

"There’s a good balance of youth and experience.

“That puts me and the management team in a very good position.”

Styles, whose side saw their scheduled fixture away to VCD cancelled on Tuesday, says several players want the armband but he intends to use pre-season to decide who will be given it.

“That’s something for pre-season, it’s a work in progress,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people who do want it. But, ultimately, we have a number of leaders that can communicate and organise.

“That’s going to be a real positive and something I’m looking forward to having on the pitch.”

Midfielder Turton captained Canterbury last season and has followed Chris Woollcott, the Oystermen’s new first-team coach, to The Belmont as the former City boss makes his return to the game.

On Turton, Styles said: “He has come through a different way. When he was really young he got a bad injury but, last season, he got a lot of games and minutes under his belt.

“He came into pre-season with a blank canvas and his levels at training have been very good.

“He’s a really positive influence in the dressing room.”

Jeffrey also will bolster Whitstable’s midfield options, with Styles saying: “JJ is someone that I knew last year.

“He came up against us, and myself and Dan have kept a close eye on him since. It was a case of having a conversation with him and, again, he had interest in the league above.

“He’s only 21 but has played a lot of games. No doubt, he will go on and play higher."

Styles, who says more signings may be announced later in the week, also spoke about the progress with the club’s 3G pitch ahead of their opening friendly away to Kent County League Kings Hill this Saturday.

“It’s making progress and moving quite quickly,” he added.

“You miss a week and see it again, and you realise just how much is going on.

“There’s a lot of work being done and a lot of work to do. But we are nowhere near being able to train and play on it.”

Whitstable are away to Rochester on Tuesday.