New Whitstable signing Javaun Splatt has revealed he could have joined the Oystermen's historic FA Vase run to Wembley glory.

Striker Splatt has been recruited by Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle alongside midfielders Callum Peck and James Miles.

The 24-year-old ended the campaign at Hythe, who suffered Isthmian South East relegation, which means Whitstable will come up against them next season.

While Splatt would like to be involved in another FA Vase run, promotion from the Southern Counties East League Premier Division will be his priority.

He said: “Matty [Longhurst, Whitstable No.2] did contact me and they tried to dual-reg me for the Vase. But I gave the gaffer at Hythe, Nick Davis, my word so I didn’t want to just leave.

“Whitstable missed out in the play-offs last season so I think this season is the time to go for it.

“With the core of the squad staying and a few additions - myself included - I don’t see why we shouldn’t go for it and try to win the league. I think everyone is on the same page in terms of winning the league.

“It would be nice to go on another cup run but, personally, I want to get the club promoted back to where they belong.

“We will just try to get points on the board and take it game-by-game.”

It was Whitstable assistant Longhurst who put the wheels in motion for Splatt to sign at The Belmont.

“I’ve known Matty for a while and I was with him at Billericay,” he said. “The set-up at Billericay is incredible for non-league football but, speaking to Matty, he said the facilities are just as good at Whitstable.

“After what they did in the Vase, it was a bit of a no-brainer.”

Splatt has also become an international footballer for the British Virgin Islands this summer, playing in World Cup qualifiers against Dominica in last Wednesday’s 3-0 loss and in a 1-0 defeat to Jamaica on Saturday.

Splatt revealed: “I found out I was eligible to play about three weeks ago.

“The manager [Avondale Williams] messaged me and said I’m someone they wanted to bring in. It moved quite quickly, to be fair, from there.

“It was a good experience and I can now say I’m an international footballer. To play in World Cup qualifiers - even though we didn’t get through - some people will never get to have that experience.

“Hopefully, I’ll get called up to the next camp.”

On British soil, there will be a couple of familiar faces when Splatt arrives for pre-season at Whitstable.

He said: “I’ve played with Connor Wilkins and I know Ricardo Thompson.

“I was with the skipper, Jake McIntyre, for a game or two at Sheppey.

“I’ve played against a few of them, as well.

“I remember playing at Whitstable because they’ve got a lot of fans. I’m just ready to get going.”

Splatt had arrived at Hythe in December but was unable to prevent them suffering Isthmian League relegation despite his eight club goals, which included five in their past five games.

He admitted: “It was hard, to be fair. It’s always hard being in a relegation scrap.”

Splatt, who played youth-team football for Derby, counts Tonbridge, Whitehawk, Worthing, Billericay, Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Clitheroe among his old clubs.

On what the Oystermen’s supporters should expect from him, he said: “I would say I’m a striker that does a bit of everything.

“I can hold the ball up and run in behind. I would like to say I’ll score a lot of goals, as well!

"That’s me in a nutshell.”