Sittingbourne boss Ryan Maxwell is well prepared for a summer rebuild.

The Brickies have lost some of the stars that took them to the Isthmian South East play-off final and the FA Trophy quarter-finals but Maxwell is confident in his own ability to get another competitive squad together.

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Attacking midfielder Zain Walker has joined from Welling United, after winger Darren Foxley joined last week, and defender Gavin Hoyte has arrived from Folkestone.

Sittingbourne’s recent success has seen players transform their careers, and it’s all helping to get quality replacements in the door.

Maxwell said: “Off the back of a tremendously successful season, we’ve had a lot of exposure and that’s obviously good for the players.

“A lot of those players (leaving) only spent a year with us but happen to be plying their trade elsewhere next season at the bare minimum, at least one level or two above.

“Ultimately, I’m in the same position as I was last year. We signed eight players then and we went on to break multiple records. If I have to do the same again, then that’s what I’ll do.

“People will be asked by other clubs, higher up the pyramid. It’s a part of success.

“Other managers may panic about having to redo it again but I’ve got a thicker skin than most and I understand it’s the nature of the beast.

“I think the only difference is this year is that I’m getting players contacting me directly from step two, asking if I would sign them and I’m talking about excellent step two players, so that’s been nice.

“Obviously, financially, we can’t get anywhere near what they were used to but, ultimately, they’re not coming for that.

“They’ve maybe seen players who have been rejuvenated or rebirthed at Sittingbourne, where maybe they haven’t quite hit their mark before. That’s a credit to everybody involved.

“We have a way of doing things here that can reignite someone’s career.

“Players want to come into an environment which sells itself. We are a very well-structured organisation from top to bottom.”

Walker has played for the likes of King’s Lynn, Aldershot and Bristol Rovers, and Maxwell says the former Fulham junior “wants to rebirth himself”.

He said: “On his day, he’s outstanding. He was injured for around four and a half months last year with a shoulder problem, but he’s over that.

“The very best of him is yet to come. He’s only 23 and with a good pre-season under his belt there’s nothing stopping that boy going right up the ladder again and beyond where he was before.

“I think he’s a real talent. He just needs to be streamlined in what it is he’s brilliant at and I think he can fly.”

It’s been a hectic time for Maxwell since the end of the season, with loan-forward Ade Azeez moving to National League South Hemel Hempstead and Ramsgate signing both Mitchell May and Donvieve Jones.

Maxwell has Anthony Church signed on again for next season - a player who wrote himself into club folklore with the FA Trophy winner at Southend.

Luke Woodward has committed to another season after rejoining the club towards the end of the season, Mitchell Beeney has come in as the club’s new goalkeeper and midfielder Richie Hamill is also staying.

On Woodward staying, Maxwell said: “He was our player-of-the-year the year before, and in the KentOnline team-of-the-year. He’s the best at this level, certainly.

“Unfortunately, he came on and then got injured in the (play-off) final and he was absolutely gutted about that. He’s got an axe to grind, and that’s good.

“He doesn’t need much to agitate him but he’s even better when he is and I’m looking forward to having him again.

“I’ve not seen him lose a tackle. He’ll go through a wall. He’s competitive and he’s also nice and composed in possession. He’s got both sides to his game.

“He came here as a striker and we converted him into this role, which just fits him perfectly.”

Church is someone Maxwell sees as a role model for others.

“Obviously, he’s a hero here forever,” said the Sittingbourne boss. “His standards, his professionalism are just what I want the club to be at and that’s the bar set.

“He’s had a tremendous non-league career, been captain of many clubs, had promotions, but he wants to be here, which says it all.

“I want people to look at him as a bit of a beacon of professionalism. That’s the standards and expectations that I want. He epitomises everything that I want this club to be.”

In Hamill, he has another quality player and has set him a goal target for next season.

Maxwell said: “He’s the best passer of a ball in the league, and I say that very loudly because he is. He’s got tremendous range, a super footballer, one of the best left footers I’ve seen in the non-league game.

“He was outstanding last year, so I want him even better this year. He’s got more to add. I honestly believe the best has yet to come from Richie.

“His left foot’s a wand, assist upon assist. I make 10 goals a target for him because he’s got an incredible strike. I just want him to get more shots off.”

Beeney comes in to take over goalkeeping duties.

Maxwell said: “At 6ft 6inch, he fills the goal, comes for all the crosses and relieves a lot of pressure. He’s more experienced than what we had before.

“Roco (Rees) did fantastically well for us but lives Chichester way and I was very adamant on everybody training two nights a week. That’s just how we do it here.

“I think Mitchell’s come for the right reasons. He had offers elsewhere that were much more lucrative than this one but he wants to get a promotion. He’s made that very clear and I’m delighted to have him.

“He’s played step two, but yet he’s only 29.”

He’s the only goalkeeper that kept a clean sheet at Woodstock this season, helping Beckenham claim a goalless draw in February.

“Yeah, that clean sheet annoyed me,” Maxwell joked. “But I’ve told him I want a record-breaking amount this year.”