John Embery is telling Herne Bay fans not to panic despite seeing almost all of last season’s squad leave.

Defender Ben Gorham is the latest to go, having agreed to join Sittingbourne but joint-boss Embery says he can’t understand why clubs reveal new signings when players can’t officially sign until July 1.

He said: “It’s a crazy. The only thing it does is alert other clubs that those players are available and want to move. And if you know them well, you can go out and get them.

“I see on forums Bay supporters saying: ‘What’s happening? We haven’t got any players but I can tell them we have.

“All the paperwork has been signed and we are pleased with the business done but won’t announce any names yet. Jermaine Darlington and I are looking forward to starting work.”

Bay announced last week plans to stage trials for first team and reserve players on Saturday week and Embery says he has been inundated with emails from players wanting to impress.

Embery added: “We had so many, we have had to ask them to submit a CV.

“Some have got a good pedigree and it’s always good to have a look, you might just find the odd diamond. We have done it before.”

The identity of the league’s new sponsor is set to be revealed at The Isthmian League’s annual meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Wembley on Saturday, following Ryman ending their 20-year association with the competition.