Top scorer Mitchell May is among four players leaving Sittingbourne.

He’s rejected an offer of full-time football in National League South to join Isthmian South East champions Ramsgate.

May scored 31 times as Bourne finished runners-up to the Rams and reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals this season.

Long-serving right-back Donvieve Jones, winger Henry Sinai and attacking midfielder Joe Boachie are also departing.

Another wideman, Troy Howard, is also in demand.

May, who attracted Championship scouts just over a year ago, had a decision to make after interest at Step 2.

Brickies boss Ryan Maxwell encouraged him to accept the full-time offer but he’s chosen Ramsgate, where he will wear the No.9 shirt vacated by record goalscorer Joe Taylor.

“Mitchell’s contemplating Step 2 and Step 3 clubs,” said Brickies boss Maxwell, before May’s Ramsgate move was announced.

“He’s had a full-time club in Step 2 show interest, via me, and I’ve said they should sign him, so they’re speaking to him.

“I’d love to see what he could do higher up.

“There’s things he needs to work on but in a full-time environment, if he’s coached well, he’ll develop.

“If Joe Taylor can go to Hornchurch part-time, Mitchell May can certainly go to a Step 2 club full-time at 23-years-old and improve dramatically, there’s no doubt about it.

“I would hope he’ll go Step 2, as long as it works for him.

“He does have a job and financially I think the Step 3 offer would be better.

“But with the opportunity to go full-time, my advice is do it because you’ll improve and you’ll get that money back if you invest in yourself.”

Jones carved out a reputation as a goalscoring full-back during his three years at Sittingbourne under Nick Davis and then Maxwell.

A big crowd favourite among Brickies fans, he’s moving up a level to Step 3.

“It’s been quite an emotional 48 hours for Donny because he’s been wrestling with what to do,” said Maxwell.

“If we’d gone up, nobody’s leaving, not one person, but we didn’t.

“Donny’s thinking he’s 25 and reluctantly - and it is reluctantly - he’s made that decision to move on.

“This would have been his fourth year here and he was very much invested in what we’ve done and been a big part of it.”

Sinai scored 16 times from the left wing for the Brickies, including an FA Trophy winner against National League South Salisbury.

He’s Step 3-bound after an outstanding campaign.

“Henry’s 29 and he doesn’t know if he’ll get another opportunity,” said Maxwell.

“I’m sure he would but when players don’t know, they panic and from his point of view it’s understandable because he’s 29, whereas Mitch is 23 and Donny’s 25 and they’ve got so much time ahead of them.

“I didn’t stand in Henry’s way at all in terms of even trying to talk him out of it because he’s played a lot of games in this league for other clubs and he had an opportunity at Step 3, so he went with my full blessing and I hope he does well.”

Boachie announced his departure on social media after a season which saw him score 11 goals, including a spectacular overhead kick in the Brickies’ 4-2 FA Trophy win over Enfield.

“After a season full of memories, it’s time to part ways with Sittingbourne,” said Boachie.

“Thanks to the fans, it’s a truly great club.

“Grateful for the boys and everything we achieved together.”

Darren Foxley is the first new face at Sittingbourne this summer after arriving from Canvey Island.

The attacker, who can play on either flank, won the Isthmian Premier title with Bishop’s Stortford two years ago and played for them in National League North.

He also has National League South experience with Billericay under his belt.

“Darren’s a super addition,” said Maxwell, who last week brought the familiar face of Danny Parish back to Sittingbourne.

“He’s a player we tried to get last summer.

“He comes with great pedigree, but he’s only 27 and he’s a player that gives us lots of options in the attacking areas.

“He’s a very clever player, incredibly hard-working, and he understands what it is he’s coming for as well, so I’m delighted to get him in.

“He’s got the experience of being a league winner, albeit in the league above, so he knows what it takes and that was important.”

Sittingbourne may have lost several players but Foxley’s arrival is a sign of things to come.

The club shot to prominence with this season’s exploits, accumulating 101 points in the league and winning at National League Southend in the last 16 of the Trophy.

The campaign ended with penalty shoot-out disappointment in the play-off final but Sittingbourne are an easy sell these days.

“I’ve been inundated with players asking me if there’s an opportunity at Sittingbourne, which is a little bit different to how it was this time last year,” said Maxwell.

“The standard and quality of player I’m talking to is very, very high, but that’s not the most important thing.

“The most important thing is the attitude and the mindset and what it is they’re signing for, which is an assault on the title.

“So being a great player or having a great CV, isn’t the most important thing, it’s are they ready for what I need from them.

“I’ve been sifting through those things and I’ve got lots of very good options.”