Phoenix Sports boss Paul Bryon is looking to defy the odds again and guide his team to a top-half finish in Isthmian South East.

Phoenix finished 11th in 2017/18, nine the following season and were on course for a top eight standing when the previous campaign was declared null and void in March.

It's not going to be easy with other clubs splashing the cash in a bid to make the push up to step 3, but it's a challenge the Phoenix manager is relishing - starting with this Saturday's trip to Ashford United.

"It's a very tough league this year, I've seen Ashford have signed Johan ter Horst who has been a Premier League forward," said Bryon.

"Coming out of Covid, clubs like us who are self-funding are having to drop our budget, but other clubs see it as a chance to get promotion.

"Our club is very humble, we know that we push financially above our weight. Survival is the first box that's got to be ticked.

"Last season we were ninth, a point behind VCD with three games in hand and while the play-offs may have been beyond us we could have got up to seventh.

"We look to do better than the year before each season, it's about finding that consistency to compete at this level."

The trio of Ashley Probets, Jack Hopkins and Jack Barry have left to join VCD under their new boss Nick Davis. But making the move in the opposite direction are Alex Gaggin, Michael Aziaya and Ainsley Everett while centre-back Ben Fitchett joins from Sittingbourne.

Phoenix have already played two FA Cup matches, being knocked out by East Grinstead despite an encouraging display on Saturday - that followed an 11-10 penalty shoot-out win over Lancing in the previous round.

"Obviously the penalty shoot-out speaks for itself," said Bryon. "I've got to choose a penalty taker now though because we've got 11 candidates!

"It was a tough draw against East Grinstead. The players they've signed are quality and most of their team has played at a higher level.

"We had a game plan having watched them in midweek and they then changed the way they had played previously. They let us have the ball more than I thought.

"We played well up to the final third but they picked us off a couple of times when we were naive."

Phoenix should have a near full-strength squad to choose from for this weekend's opener at Ashford.

"We want to play against good players," said Bryon. "I was pleased with lots of our performance last Saturday it was just the final third and transition that hurt us in the end."

First four league games: Sat Sep 19: Ashford (a), Sat Sep 26: Herne Bay (h), Sat Oct 3: Hythe (a), Tue Oct 6: Burgess Hill (a).

• Read our Isthmian League club by club guide here

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