Nikki Bull says he is 'totally relaxed' about the way Margate conducted the signing of Mike Fondop-Talom and that Billericay are wasting their time holding out for a fee.

Margate announced the capture of the 22-year-old striker on Monday, believing he was out of contract, but Billericay responded, claiming the Blues had jumped the gun and that he was still their player.

The Essex club said on their website that Fondop-Talom was on their retained list to be offered re-engagement and went onto add they would be demanding a transfer fee.

However, Gate boss Bull says he has spoken at length with the Football Association and is comfortable with the way his club went about their business.

He added: "As far as we are concerned Billericay are just trying it on. We entered negotiations with Mike and his agent on the basis that it was a free transfer.

"He'd only been there nine months, they signed him for no fee and I'm surprised they came out and said what they said because, from what I understand, they've not gone through the proper procedure to re-engage him.

"I'm totally relaxed that Mike is our player, and that there is no fee owing. He's raw but he's exciting and there's a hell of a lot to work with. I'm looking forward to getting started with him."

Bull - who also signed Lewis Taylor, Brett Johnson and Adam Cash this week - says ideally he'd like to have four strikers at the club next season and he revealed that he is already in talks with a host of players.

He did however serve a note of caution, saying some players' agents do not appreciate that the financial climate at Hartsdown Park has changed since the departure of Bob Laslett as owner/chairman in March.

Bull explained: "I'm keen to get four forwards signed because scoring goals was a big problem for us last season. I want to make sure we've got goals in the team and make us exciting to watch.

"The problem is that some people still have the perception of 'Moneybags Margate', that money's no object, so I'm still getting calls from agents not knowing the landscape has changed in that respect."