It’s been a busy week for Sittingbourne and manager Ryan Maxwell with the boss expecting a busy few weeks to come.

The Brickies boss’ surprise U-turn to stay at Woodstock Park took nearly everyone by surprise, but the Irishman has wasted no time in already recruiting the services of eight of his squad that made the Isthmian South East Play Offs for another season with more to follow. 

“It’s a very busy time for all managers,” Maxwell told us, “Even though I am on a short holiday with my family at the moment, it has been a remarkably busy few days on the phone, albeit in a very peaceful environment! I have managed to get quite a bit done which is great in a busy time for managers.” 

“The reaction of the news that I am staying at the Club has been absolutely lovely. As a family, we feel very loved by everyone at the Club, which is incredibly unique!”

“I know that I’ve said before that Sittingbourne is a unique Club, but it really is indeed… now that we have said that we are staying, it now has to be all about the job at hand to be honest – we are here to deliver and there is nothing more that I will want next season than to deliver to the Club’s fans.”

“We’ve a great affiliation with them anyway – the reaction when we thought we were leaving was remarkable, so we all want to deliver it for them!” 

“We have several members of last season’s squad returning already for next year which is great for two reasons – one, we were not far away anyway getting to the Play Offs, and two, we do not have to start recruiting a whole new squad again and deal with it. I am delighted to keep a large number of them.” 

“We had a number of injuries too who will be invited back for pre-season – JB Fischer and Lukey Woodward to name two and Michael Turner will not be too far behind them either from his broken leg – so I am looking forward to pre-season already… Of course, there will be ins and outs – there always is as it is the nature of the game – but overall, we are retaining a number of the squad.” 

One new name already committed to Sittingbourne is striker Elliott Romain and Maxwell said, “Elliott speaks for himself with his non-league career as he’s been a very good player at the higher levels and is a player of pedigree and quality and one who I have kept in contact with over the past few years and have always been a big fan of his.”

“We have had a few good conversations and he saw what we did last year. He knows why he’s signing and I think when you sign a player of his pedigree what it is we are here to do.”

“He will be a fantastic influence on everyone around him – he is a proper winner, and he cannot wait to get going at Sittingbourne, and we cannot wait to see him pull on a red and black shirt.”