Manny Parry has left Margate to move up a grade and manager Nikki Bull says it could not have happened to a nicer guy.

Parry has joined Vanarama National League side Braintree Town after being released from his contract and Bull believes the 22-year-old centre-half has the ability to play even higher.

The Gate boss said he couldn't speak highly enough about the way Parry conducted himself at Hartsdown and he goes to Braintree- 21st in the National League - with the best wishes of everyone at the club.

Bull added: "It's good when nice things happen to nice people and I'm delighted that Manny has got a move to the National League.

"I said when I signed him that when he left Margate it would be for a club in a higher division so I'm pleased to have been able to fulfil that pledge to him.

"He could have gone to six or seven clubs in our division over the past couple of weeks but I thought he was capable of playing higher.

"His attitude since he's been with us has been fantastic. He's in the gym every day and you can see he wants it. I believe he'll go from strength to strength from here and go on to have a fantastic career in the Football League."

Gate boss Bull beat off competition from a host of clubs in the summer to sign Parry after his release from Maidstone United.

A virtual ever present during Maidstone's promotion-winning campaign Parry made 46 appearances after signing from Grays, and was a big crowd favourite as Stones went more than 10 hours without conceding a league goal.

The 6ft 3in defender, began his career with Millwall and Stoke City, where he learned his trade alongside the likes of Ryan Shawcross, Matt Upson, Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate.

He had loan spells at Conference clubs Maidenhead United, Nuneaton Town, Weston-super-Mare and Worcester City before joining Grays.

Winger Alex Osborn became the second player to leave Hartsdown on Friday - and the fifth in two days - when he joined Margate's Vanarama National League South rivals Whitehawk.

Osborn, 23, joined the Blues in the summer and scored the winner in the 1-0 home win over Bath City on the opening day of the season.

He returns to Whitehawk having had a successful loan spell with the Sussex club last season. He started his careeer with Dagenham and has also previously played for Maidstone United, Ebbsfleet United, Hayes & Yeading and Concord Rangers.

Nikki Bull has completed a hat-trick of signings ahead of Saturday's home FA Trophy third qualifying round tie with East Thurrock United.

The Gate boss has brought in 18-year-old striker Victor Adeboyejo on loan from League 2 Leyton Orient, and joining him at Hartsdown are 20-year-old defender Tariq Moore-Azille and experienced Cameroonian keeper Valery Pajetat.

Adeboyejo has spent time with Hastings United, Soham Town and Dulwich Hamlet while Moore-Azille was a youngster at Arsenal and Coventry. He has also played for Thurrock and Dover and spent time in Sweden before signing for Bishop's Stortford earlier this season.

Pajetat has a wealth of experience much of it abroad, and had a short spell with Dulwich Hamlet at the start of this season.

The Gate hope to announce the signing of a central midfielder before the game.