Steve Lovell believes a chaotic summer at Herne Bay hasn’t significantly delayed his rebuild operation - with plenty of new signings imminent.

Bay are yet to name Sam Callander’s successor after he recently stood down as chairman following injuries he suffered when he was struck by a van in Whitstable.

But Bay boss Lovell insisted: “Nothing has been held up at all.

“The chairman isn’t around at the moment for obvious reasons. But there’s enough people, working very hard behind-the-scenes, to ensure the club is run smoothly.

“Now, we’re going to push on. There’s a lot of hard work [going on] behind-the-scenes. It’s all positive.

“We’re looking forward to getting into training at the end of June with a group of players that we can work with.”

The club are due to return to Isthmian South East for the 2023/24 campaign - after suffering Isthmian Premier relegation - and, so far, they have only announced the arrival of young defender Harrison Pont.

But Lovell added: “That’s what we have been doing, we have been doing that from the start.

“Since we have been given the job, me and Mark [Lovell, his son and assistant] have been on the phone to players and agents.

“We’re getting there and there’s a lot of players we have agreed things with.

“We’re not announcing anything at the moment because we don’t want to alert other clubs that they are available.

“But definitely, in the next couple of weeks, there will be a lot of players that will be announced.

“It’s a lot of hard work but we’re enjoying it.

“It’s been a little bit hyped, I think. I rebuilt at Welling and I rebuilt as director of football at Ebbsfleet.

“I did it at Sittingbourne. At Ramsgate, I was lucky to have a platform.

“Most clubs I’ve gone in, I’ve generally needed to rebuild - and that’s what I’ve done. It’s no different for me here.”

Lovell also acknowledges the side he has together at the start of pre-season may not be the one which begins his competitive campaign.

The 62-year-old added: “Our team probably will not be the finalised team in pre-season.

“It will be in August, when the season starts, that we need the right personnel in for.”

Mark Taylor has been appointed as the club’s under-23s boss, with trials taking place on June 20.

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