Chairman Gary Smart doesn’t expect too many new signings to head through the door at Faversham Town this summer.

Preparations are under way as Town return to Isthmian South East in 2025/26 after their title-winning campaign last time out.

There are plenty of examples of clubs coming up from the Southern Counties East League Premier Division and being competitive at Step 4 - the main recent one being Chatham, who completed back-to-back promotions as they were crowned 2022/23 Isthmian South East champions.

Smart said: “Sheppey and Chatham fought it out in that [2021/22] season where they both finished on 100 points or more - and Chatham were second. But they then completed back-to-back promotions. It’s doable.

“Sheppey have sort of cemented a place in that league and Erith Town, apart from a little bit of a drop-off at the end of their season, have done really well.

"Deal finished seventh and we were only nine points behind Deal in the 2023/24 season so we know where we are, roughly, without making any changes.

“I think we’re going to bring a couple in - four at the most - but the core will stay.”

While there is likely to be no shortage of players that will be eager to link-up with the Salters Lane side over the close season, Smart warned any new recruits must be able to make an immediate impact at the club.

He explained: “We have got a bit of a plan, unless a player comes along who is actually going to be a first-choice in the starting XI, we’ll stay where we are with the players we’ve got.

“Tommie Fagg came in during February and you’re talking about the love of our life, Billy Bennett, [that he replaced]. Unfortunately, something had to give.

“Tommy felt that, looking to the future, Tommie Fagg could help us a level or two up (from where they were). It’s all in his hands and we don’t get involved in it as a board.

“He just tells us the players he wants, and then we go and get them for him.”

Warrilow was named as Sammy Moore’s successor in January 2024 and, while he couldn’t quite get the club promoted that term, losing on penalties in the play-off semi-final after a six-game winning run to end the regular season, he got the job done the following campaign.

“I get on really well with Tommy,” said Smart. “He’s a straight-talker, a straight-shooter.

“In the changing room, I know he has got them believing in his tactics, and his morals and principles. He has the dressing room in the palm of his hand.

"They go out and run through brick walls for him.

“I think that’s a credit to him because he has been around for a long time. I think we were lucky to get him.

"I know the timing probably ended up being brilliant because he had come out of football for six or seven months so I knew he was available.

“We had a chat but, obviously, with that chat comes big pressure. We have got a decent budget here - like a lot of the teams have - and the budget is quite a big thing in the SCEFL Premier Division.

“He’s come in and done the job which was asked of him, which was to get us out of that league. We had a three-hour meeting on the Monday after the season before he went away on holiday, a well-deserved holiday, for a week.

“But 48 hours after the final whistle of the season, we were already planning for next year.

“We’re very much together on it. We have got a vision, a plan, and we’re not in the league next year just to make the numbers up.

"We’re going to have a go at it.”

Faversham have confirmed midfielder Sam Hasler and striker Danny Parish will not be returning for the 2025/26 season.

Hasler departs after two campaigns in favour of a return to Ashford while Parish, who added 11 goals after joining on dual registration from Swale rivals Sittingbourne in December, will also move on for pastures new.

But midfielder Fagg has penned a one-year deal and utility player Matt Newman, as well as playmaker Nathan Wood and winger Kieron Campbell, have agreed to stay, as well.