Coach Craig Coles is delighted Whitstable’s backline have committed to stay with the club next season.

The Southern Counties East Premier Division Oystermen this week confirmed experienced first-choice goalkeeper Dan Eason, along with defenders Jake Mackenzie, Tom Mills, Will Thomas, George Sheminant and prospect Ed May, will be part of manager Marcel Nimani’s squad.

Coles said: “We spoke to a lot of the boys quite early on.

“We tried to speak to them towards the end of last season to see what their plans were.

“They’re a big part of what we tried to create and do last year.

“It’s a good start to the season coming up that we’ve been able to retain them.”

Mackenzie started out at Gillingham while Mills was a Maidstone fans’ favourite and Eason previously enjoyed successful stints at Hythe and Herne Bay.

“Millsy and Macca are, obviously, very experienced at Step 4 and Step 5 football,” Coles said.

“They have played so many games between them.

“Will and George bring a little bit of youth.

“It’s a weird one because, although both of them are quite young boys, they’re both quite experienced.

“If you look at Shem, he was at Gills for many years and then went to Chatham and got promoted with them, and had a spell at Ramsgate.

“He’s only 22.

“He’s a young player but, actually, he’s already played a lot of senior football.

“Obviously last season for him, that was the first full season he had completed at senior level.

“But not just Shem, all five of those boys were fantastic last year.

“It’s been massive for us that we have been able to keep hold of all of them.”

Full-back May, meanwhile, caught the eye of Coles and Nimani when playing for the reserves shortly after they first came in.

On-loan Sheppey frontman Jefferson Aibangbee finished last term in electric form with Whitstable but now has signed for rivals Faversham on a season-long loan from Holm Park.