Manager Jamie Coyle hopes the first batch of Whitstable summer signings will add more firepower to their squad.

Striker Javaun Splatt has joined the Oystermen with midfielders Callum Peck and James Miles.

Coyle says Whitstable’s backroom staff highlighted a lack of goals as a main reason why their 2024/25 Southern Counties East League Premier Division promotion push came up short - and hopes the trio can help to fix that issue.

“We’ve looked at last season,” said Coyle.

“We came third in the league and we only had one in the top goalscoring charts - and that was Bradley Schafer, who only did half a season with us. Our chance-to-goal ratio wasn’t good enough.

“Splatty coming in with Callum Peck and James Miles, they will offer a bit more, going forwards. We’re still talking to one or two more.

“If we defend how we did at the back-end of last season, we will be all right. There will be no issues there.

“But we need to add more goals and, hopefully, we’ve done that.”

It comes as Whitstable adapt without one of their scorers in last month’s FA Vase victory at Wembley. Harvey Smith has joined Isthmian South East play-off finalists Sittingbourne on a season-long loan.

It was initially announced that the 22-year-old striker was to stay at The Belmont in late May before a u-turn on that decision.

Coyle said: “I think they have lost all their forwards in the close season.

“I know (Brickies boss) Ryan Maxwell and it will be a good environment for him. Harvey wanted to play higher.

“With his performance at Wembley, he was always going to attract interest. It will be a test because Sittingbourne will want to get out of that league.

“Hopefully, he has a successful season, we can get promoted and we can decide the best plan, moving forwards, next summer.”

While others from Whitstable’s FA Vase-winning squad have also attracted higher-division interest, 42-year-old Coyle is remaining level-headed.

He said: “We’re waiting on a couple.

"Their heads have been turned, which is a bit frustrating, but there will be one or two additions in the next few days.

“We lost one game in 28 at the end of last season and we have only lost two out of that starting line-up and, hopefully, we have made some really good acquisitions.”

Coyle has also warned those who are tempted to try their luck elsewhere that they might find their space taken if their attempts to sign for another club, ultimately, end up being unsuccessful.

“I’ve had that conversation with those players,” he said. “If they want to trial elsewhere, we have got to sign replacements as though they’re not going to be here.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Coyle is optimistic in finding another gem to follow in the footsteps of teenage keeper Josh Robson, who has left for National League side Sutton United this summer, at Tuesday night's showcase game at The Belmont.

He said: “We have got a really good pathway from the under-18s to the under-23s to the Academy.

“That was the key to getting myself and Matt (Longhurst, his assistant) in because we’ve got a background of developing players. They will be even closer this year.

“We gave a lot of the young players opportunities last season and, hopefully, we can continue to do that. We love to see players move on to higher-division clubs.

“You hope that helps attract more players to the club. We had a showcase game at the club on Tuesday night.

"There might be the next Josh Robson or Harvey Smith there that will join us and be successful.”