Whitstable Town joint manager Danny Ward has again insisted there is a simple reason why the Oystermen have been able to attract proven Ryman League players in recent weeks – and it’s not money.

After confirming the signing of experienced central defender Joe Kennett – who follows Ian Pulman, Simon Pettitt and Ryan Golding – Ward, who took over as joint manager last month with his brother Jim, said: “If you had told me a few weeks ago we would be in this position, I would have been pleasantly surprised.

“There’s a lot of people across the county who are equally surprised and they are trying to claim the reason that people like Joe are coming here is money.

“Well, they are not coming to us for money, it’s because they know they will be treated properly and that’s what it is all down to.”

Kennett played under Jim Ward before joining Herne Bay last season and Danny said: “You know what you are going to get with Joe.

He stops teams from scoring goals and is another player we’ve signed who has got a lot of Ryman League experience which is what you need at this level.”

Whitstable have also signed young Margate defender Aaron James,with Ward saying: “We watched him playing for Margate Under-18s in a title decider last month and he is a tall, commanding centre-half.

“Well, they are not coming to us for money, it’s because they know they will be treated properly..." - Danny Ward

“He’s still got things to learn but will be fighting for a first team shirt next

season.”

Another young central defender, Aaron Simpson, looks set to leave The Belmont providing he impresses Maidstone United in pre-season.

Ward said: “Aaron is going on trial at Maidstone, who are a league above us, so we will see what happens. But I think if he plays for anybody in our league, then it will be for us.”