Margate are second favourites to win the Isthmian Premier title - but manager Jay Saunders isn’t convinced.

Gate are priced 10/1 with William Hill, behind AFC Hornchurch at 5/1, with Haringey Borough third favourites at 14/1.

Saunders won the championship with Maidstone in 2015, one of three promotions achieved in four seasons at the Gallagher.

The market has perhaps been influenced by his record but the Blues boss said: “I don’t make us second favourites, if I’m honest.

“What people have got to realise is we’re a new squad.

“Michael Abnett is our oldest player at 28, Jon Miles is 26 and everyone else is under 24, so we are very young.

• Four in the door

“Listen, I’m ambitious and I want to win things but we’re inexperienced and it might take a little bit of time to get into the swing of things, but we’ll see.

“Do I think, realistically, we could win the league on the budget we have, compared to others? I’d say no.

“People say it isn’t about money but nine times out 10 the team with the biggest budget wins the league.

“That’s generally what happens - look at Dorking last season.

“I’ve said I’d like to try and make the play-offs, which would be a very good achievement with where we are budget-wise.”

Margate travel to favourites Hornchurch in the first week of the season.

They start at home to Brightlingsea on August 10, followed by the trip to Essex three days later.

Saunders said: “They’re very experienced and we’re the opposite but sometimes it’s good to get those top teams early on while they’re still settling down.

“The pitch isn’t the best there later in the season so that’s another good thing about going there early but I can only worry about us and finding a style that suits us.”

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