An update from the Gaffer.

I can see lots of people are panicking but there’s no panic.’

Boss Mitch Brundle has been quietly going about his business this summer and while there has been no new signings made as of yet, there are things going on behind the scenes. The club released their retained list last week which included Luke Baptiste, George Wilkinson, George Nikaj and Freddie Oliver. Speaking to Kent Online Sport the gaffer said ‘Those boys have already been playing and training with us all the time, and they’ll be a few more from the Academy involved with the first-team squad. Freddie will be involved again this year – he had school last year. There’s people like George Wilkinson, who didn’t have as much game time towards the end, but there’s a player in there. I’ve got a pre-season now to work with them and try to get the best out of them.’

We said on the retained post that some of the previous squad had been offered contracts but as of yet no one has agreed a deal. ‘Some of them won’t engage yet because they want to relax. They might look for better options. They might want to better themselves, going elsewhere. We can allow them to go and explore their options because we don’t have any ties. The key is to ensure there’s a good relationship between myself and the players, and I’ve got that with everyone that I’ve spoken to. But it comes down to finances and what that player wants – in terms of whether it works for them, with where they live because Juddy (Myles Judd), for example, is over Essex way. There’s a lot of work to be done and a lot can be said. But until anything’s concrete, I don’t like discussing it.’

There have been offers made and agreed in principal with a few players already but the boss is unable to get the deals over the line due to players working on a part time basis. ‘There’s just not been a chance to go to the stadium and actually sign the contract yet. Obviously, when you go part-time, they can’t just go down in midweek and sign a bit of paper – because they’re at work. I can see lots of people are panicking but there’s no panic.’

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