Faversham Town manager Ray Turner expects to sign Luke Harvey and Jamie Maxted from Herne Bay this weekend.

Both players are due to put pen to paper when the Lilywhites begin pre-season training on Saturday, and Bay manager Simon Halsey vented his frustration at the loss of two members of last season’s Kent League-winning squad, claiming: "Every one of my players must have had a call from Faversham – they’re still after more.

"I find it sad that they can’t build and coach a side of their own and instead try to take someone else’s."

However Turner (pictured) insisted: "I expect my name will be mud where Simon [Halsey] is concerned but I didn’t actually chase either of them, they both came to me first."

And the Faversham boss, who has already signed several other players this summer including Aaron Lacy from Hythe, Wayne Wilson from Margate and Nick Davis from Erith Town, believes the arrival of striker Harvey and Maxted, who can play centre-half or left-back, is further evidence of his determination to take the Lilywhites forward next season after their 15th-place finish in 2011-12.

Turner said: "I wanted to change things dramatically. I wanted it to be my side next season and to feature players that I have brought to the club.

"I think I must have been the length and breadth of the county the past few weeks talking to players, and I think the hard work is starting to pay off."

Turner, who is also hoping to sign a third as yet unnamed Herne Bay player this weekend, added: "Last season was a bit of a transitional period for us and, despite the new players we did bring in around New Year, it never really developed into the team I was looking for.

"I’m not prepared just to tread water again next season. I want us to compete with the best teams in the league rather than being a club that lets their best players go to other clubs.

"I think you can see that, with the players who’ve stayed on from last season and the new players we’ve signed, that we are ambitious to push on."

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