Richard Styles has beaten off stiff competition to be named as Whitstable's new manager having left Tunbridge Wells.

Styles replaces Andy Drury who left the Oystermen for Isthmian Premier Margate last week and will hope to spearhead Whitstable's Southern Counties East Premier Division promotion push during the club's 2022/23 season.

In a club statement, the Oystermen said they received more than 30 applications for the position and held a number of interviews.

Styles will be joined by assistant Dan Morrin at The Belmont, both are UEFA B coaches.

"We are both delighted to be here," Styles, who also works for the Charlton Athletic Community Trust, told the club website.

"It is a great project and the right time to join the club. It was an opportunity that we just couldn’t turn down.

"We are proud to be at Whitstable, which is a big club with great fans and we very much look forward to engaging with them and will build a team that they can be proud of."

On Twitter, Styles added: "Just the clarify 16-05 am [Monday], myself and Dan Morrin handed our resignations from our positions at Tunbridge Wells FC.

"After much deliberation, we decided this was the best outcome given the new challenge going forwards that had arisen at Whitstable Town FC.

"I want to thank everyone involved at Tunbridge Wells FC from the chairman for the opportunity and to the volunteers for making me feel so welcome since I joined the club three years ago.

"Two Covid-stricken years and [a] full season just finished, I've always worked as hard as possible in every game and moment with the club. Thank-you to each and every player and staff member that wore the badge in my time as manager and gave me everything.

"[A] big thank-you to the fans for making myself and all players and staff so welcome from the minute we walked in, we certainly felt the closeness within the dressing room.

"I've made some great friends and memories that will last a lifetime and have enjoyed every minute since joining the club.

"I leave for pastures new at Whitstable Town and am looking forward to embracing the next challenge and getting to work with an immense project and work being done already off the pitch.

"Whitstable Town has always been a big, well-supported club.

"It's an exciting time and we can't wait to get going and do all we can to bring the deserved success to the club and the fans.

"Who likes Oysters???"

Work is due to start this week on plans to install a 3G pitch at The Belmont in time for next season.