Sheppey United’s management expect winger Danny Leonard to lead by example after handing him the captaincy.

Leonard first joined the Ites from Dartford in the summer of 2022 and he’s produced plenty of entertaining moments during those two years.

He’s now heading into the 2024/25 season with extra responsibilities on his shoulders.

Leonard’s taken over the captaincy from Richie Hamill after he left to join Sittingbourne.

Assistant boss Geoff Record said: “Danny Leonard is very good in the dressing room, he has got a good personality and, hopefully, he will take it on and make sure he keeps all the attitudes right.

“It is an extension of the management team as the skipper, anything tactically during the game we like to think that he will make sure the boys are implementing it.

“Dan is a very good player, one of the better wide players in the league.

“I would think he would be leading by example with his performances and we will be looking to him to win us games.”

The Ites have continued their summer rebuild with full-back Sam Itauma joining after impressing in training.

Mamadou Diallo, meanwhile, has committed for another season.

Record said: “He (Diallo) is a very good player, can play left or right-back and I have done a lot of work with him and others like Lekan [Majoyegbe].

“I like to think that he is one of those who has really improved his football last season.

“When I first came in last year he was making some errors, typical of a young player, but he is reducing those and I really rate him.

“He is good going forward as well because we ask our full-backs to get forward when they can and try and supply some crosses but, ultimately, you are there as part of the defence - that’s the first job.

“We are slowly adding to the squad, we have to take our time and so have the players, to make sure it is right all round.

“We added Sam last week and I am sure we will add one or two more.”

Sheppey entertain a Gillingham XI on Friday (7.30pm) as their preparations for the new Isthmian South East season continue.

The fixtures came out last week and the Ites start the season at Three Bridges on Saturday, August 10.

Sevenoaks Town are the first visitors to Holm Park on Saturday, August 24.

Looking ahead to the visit of the Gills, Record said: “It is always nice to play a pro club, that will be a very hard game for us, a good challenge.

“As a player you look forward to those games and facing a pro club and the lads will be positive about it.”

Sheppey drew 2-2 with VCD Athletic on Tuesday night with trialists scoring both goals. The midweek draw came after a 1-0 defeat to Bowers & Pitsea at home on Saturday.

Reacting to the weekend loss, Record said: “It was a good challenge against an Isthmian Premier side.

“It was always going to be a good workout for us, and that is exactly how it turned out.

“I think overall it was a much-improved performance in comparison to our other friendlies, in terms of all-round performance.

“We were unlucky not to have kept a clean sheet and had some chances to score that we didn’t take, but there were plenty of positives to take from the game.”

Young goalkeeper Hadley Glock played as No.1 while Aiden Prall continues to recover from a shoulder injury.

He was hoping to be fit enough to play against Gillingham on Friday night.