Manager Ben Smith says he couldn’t “rob” departing Herne Bay defender Dan Carrington of his best years.

Carrington has left the Isthmian Premier outfit and re-joined Faversham.

The 26-year-old recently departed Bay alongside right-back Troy Williams, the pair unable to force their way into the side despite last season’s centre-back duo of Dan Johnson and Laurence Harvey being away at the start of the campaign.

“Those lads have done brilliantly,” said Smith.

“I know Troy was only with us for a short amount of time but he was involved in our most successful period of the club’s history.

“Dan Carrington is super hard done by, really. He didn’t put a foot wrong for us.

“But sometimes, you have to make decisions for the next two or three years with where the club is going. If that meant Dan wouldn’t play enough football, then it would be wrong of us to rob him of his best years because he’s coming up to his peak years. Doing that sitting on our bench, being a bit-part player, that wouldn’t have been fair on him.

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“He’s too good a player and too good a person to do that to.

"It’s not nice but, hopefully, he cracks on now back at Faversham. He’s a big signing for them.”

Summer signings Keano Robinson and Lexus Beeden have played in the heart of Bay’s defence and, despite conceding eight goals in five Isthmian Premier games, Smith insists he has been pleased with what he’s seen from them.

“The lads that have played centre-half have done well, although Monday, obviously, it didn’t quite work out [as they lost 2-1 at Folkestone despite Kieron Campbell’s goal],” he said.

“But when you go on holiday at the start of the season, you can’t expect anything else. Everyone has their reasons why they do stuff but my focus is Herne Bay Football Club. I’m not going away and I don’t expect my players to go away.

“We have to set a standard of what we are doing at the football club - we are not a small football club - we do things properly and the players have to live by their decisions, don’t they as much as it affects the rhythm of our team at the start of the season?

“But I must say Lexus Beeden has come in and been fantastic with Keano Robinson.

“We have conceded goals but you are going to concede goals. The aim of the game is to score goals and teams have quality but I certainly cannot fault them.”

Club captain Harvey is still yet to appear this season, although Johnson was twice an unused substitute over the Bank Holiday weekend, with Bay drawing 1-1 with Kingstonian on Saturday as defender Chris Edwards netted.

Asked when Harvey will be back, Smith, whose team sit 19th, replied: “We’ll see, we are not quite sure yet. DJ has been on the bench.

“He’s now fit and has had a session. He will be in contention which is good.”

Striker Rory Smith, meanwhile, has joined Deal Town on dual-registration.

Smith explained: “He came back late in pre-season. At the time, we were a bit in chaos to be honest in pre-season - players here, there and everywhere and on holiday - and we couldn’t get any rhythm.

“Rory is a top, top player so it’s good to get him out and just get him some minutes. He needs to get momentum again and then really have a crack at this league.”

With work to install the club’s new 3G pitch still not completed, Bay will host league rivals Horsham this Saturday in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round at Ramsgate.

“Great from Ramsgate, they have been fantastic,” Smith admitted. “We cannot fault them and really appreciate what they have done.

“But it’s not like a home, is it? But it was either that or turn it around and go to Horsham. No, thank you.

“This should be the last one away from Winch’s Field.”

Smith watched Horsham draw 1-1 with Margate last Friday night.

“They are a good side, I watched them against Margate. They are really well-organised and well-drilled. It will be a tough game as they all are,” he said.

“Really, we could have got a nice little draw. But for both of us, this is one of the tougher draws we could have got. You don’t want someone in your own league, do you?

“I’ve said that in any cup competition we’ve played in, you always want to play teams that are outside your league.

“But it is what it is. We’ll crack on, prepare properly and try to win the game.”

Herne Bay will now be starting a tidying-up project after all the work done at Winch's Field over the summer. Anyone who wants to get involved can call chairman Stuart Fitchie on 07557 336658.