Whitstable Town boss Jamie Coyle predicts plenty of player movement with the start of Southern Counties East Premier Division season around the corner

There will be plenty of player movement in the next few weeks, predicts Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle.

Coyle’s Oystermen will conclude their pre-season at Combined Counties Premier Division South side Redhill this Saturday ahead of the start of the new Southern Counties East Premier Division season.

The Whitstable boss is happy with the squad he has assembled.

He thinks trialists at higher-division clubs may be let go soon, though, and has vowed to be ready to act when that happens.

“We’re really confident with the squad we have put together,” said Coyle.

“Obviously, we did lose some players right before the start of pre-season.

“We weren’t planning for that but we’re confident with what we have got now.

“In the next week or two, there will be a few dropping out from clubs at higher leagues.

“They might not get offered what they expect. We will constantly look to add to what we have currently got.

“I think, in the next one or two weeks, there will be a lot of movement right across non-league.

“We will have an eye out for what becomes available.”

The latest addition to Whitstable’s new-look squad is young left-back Jayden Boulton, who arrives from Dartford’s Academy.

Coyle said: “He played in Dartford’s first pre-season game against Charlton and got man-of-the-match in the second half.

"He offers something we haven’t got in terms of real electric pace.

“We’re really pleased he has decided to be part of what we want to do at Whitstable.

“He’s still very young and needs to learn but we’re excited to work with him.”

The summer arrival of Boulton helps to further show their intention to develop young players.

“The club has got huge potential to climb the divisions,” Coyle said. “Players like that - with his ability - could be at the club for a long time.

“We wanted to look at some of our own youngsters in pre-season, as well, to see if they can be involved in our first team.

“We have also brought in people like Michael West. We’ll need people like that to help the younger players.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time to get the blend and the understanding completely right.

"We have really tested ourselves with the friendlies we have had in pre-season.

“There’s been some real learning in the games that we have played.

“Naturally, we’re frustrated with some of the results. But we have got to keep reminding ourselves as a management team we’re playing against teams from one or two leagues above.

“We have learnt so much this pre-season.

"This is the most learning we have done as a management team. It’s been really beneficial.

“We’re far from the finished article but, with every game, we’re learning.”

The Oystermen lost 3-1 at home against a young Gillingham XI last weekend despite substitute Bobby Dunn’s goal.

Coyle reflected: “It was always going to be tough.

“They actually did really well, they’re a fairly young side.

“You could see they train every day and are very structured with their style of play, and we struggled to get to grips with them in the first 45 minutes.

“Second half, we changed things around. But it was a good, positive, work-out.

“It’s nice that Bryan (Bull, Gills’ Academy manager) brought down a young, enthusiastic side, who were very organised.

“Our players did well. They took on some tactical information and it was a lot more of a contest in the second half.

“If we come across a team that plays a diamond formation in the season, the players have a better understanding of how we will counteract that.

“It was definitely a worthwhile exercise.”

Whitstable will begin their league campaign on July 27 at Sutton Athletic, managed by one-time Gillingham, Faversham and Ramsgate defender Ryan Huckle.

“It’s a really tough place to go,” noted Coyle. “I played against them when I was at Glebe last season.

“I know their manager well, I’ve played with him previously. They’re a very well-organised and hard-working side.

"It’s going to be a tough start to the season.

“It’s one of those pitches that will deteriorate throughout the season. So, it’s nice to get it out the way early. It’s something we have planned for in the pre-season.

“It’s quite hard and bobbly and it will be a different test.

“That’s why it’s perfect for us, ending our pre-season at Redhill.

“Every game is difficult in this league. No team is going to turn up and roll over for you.

“We will try to watch them and we will be prepared by the time that game comes around.

“When, the season starts, we need to hit the ground running.”

Dunn and Michael West scored for Whitstable in their 2-2 home draw with Dover on Tuesday evening.