Upbeat Herne Bay manager Steve Lovell is remaining positive ahead of talks with club officials this week after the departure of chairman Sam Callander.

Bay’s unusual summer took another twist on Saturday with newly-appointed Mr Callander stepping down - as he recovers from injuries sustained when being hit by a van.

Vice-chairman John Bathurst will step up until a new chairman is appointed.

The board will meet with Lovell tomorrow.

Lovell revealed: “I’m meeting with everybody on Friday.

“I’ve called a meeting so, until I speak with everybody there, I’m not going to pass any judgement on what’s going on. I need to know myself.

“We’ll sit down and discuss it, and we’ll see what the best way forward is.

“But from our side of it, it’s positivity and we’re still approaching it in a way that the season is one that we’re looking forward to.

“There’s no reason why things should change.

“It’s just a matter of us, between now and the start of the season, trying to get a squad together that can compete in the league.”

Experienced manager Lovell had initially been attracted to pen a two-year deal with the Isthmian South East outfit by Mr Callander’s vision for the club and wished him well with his recovery.

He said: “We wish him a speedy recovery and want to see him back at the football club.

“But in the meantime, we’ve got to carry on - for the fans and for the town.

“We’ve got to make sure we do our job and ensure they’re going to enjoy their football this year.”

Lovell did concede the uncertainty around Herne Bay was making it tougher for him to sign players.

“It’s hard,” he accepted.

“At this time of the season, players are weighing up their options with where they want to go.

“Obviously, we want to know where we are and what we are doing, so we can get on board the players that we want.

“But I can understand players at the moment, thinking ‘What’s going to happen?’

“You can’t blame them for thinking that.

“As soon as we can sort out the way forward - which is going to be a positive one - and what direction we can go in, then I can get on with signing players.

“We’ve spoken to so many players and we’re just waiting to put a stamp on it and start getting the players in.”

Lovell has signed defender Harrison Pont - the first new recruit of his time in charge at Winch’s Field.

He said: “He’s a good lad.

“He’s a young centre-half who’s played a lot of games for his age.

“He’s the type of player that we want at the club. He’s very ambitious and hard-working, and he loves his football.

“I’ve agreed things with two or three - maybe four - other players.

“But I’m not announcing them yet because I want everything to be right before I start announcing them.

“We are in talks with quite a few players.”

Former Gillingham youth player Pont made headlines in March, playing in goal for Sittingbourne as he saved a late penalty by ex-Gillingham frontman Adebayo Akinfenwa in their 1-0 Swale derby success at Faversham.

The fact Pont was prepared to put the gloves on highlighted he’s very much a team player.

“We want to bring in the type of player that enjoys their football,” said Lovell.

“There’s a lot of rumours going around about players earning a lot of money at this level and the level below.

“But for me, it’s all about characters, personalities and people who actually want to work hard and play football for the right reasons.”

Defender Jack Parter and midfielder Monty Saunders have followed centre-back Dan Johnson in reuniting with ex-Bay boss Ben Smith at Ramsgate.