Tonbridge boss Jay Saunders is closing in on further summer signings.
Saunders completed his first new addition over the weekend with the arrival of winger Fumnaya Shomotun from Dartford.
Defender Jamie Fielding has moved on after rejecting a new contract but more new faces are on the way, including a replacement for long-serving goalkeeper Jonny Henly, who left at the end of the season.
Saunders said: “The market is slow at this time of year but on the flipside it’s us being patient as well and making sure we get the right ones in.
“We’re getting there with that and we’ve still got a month until we’re back for pre-season.
“We’re signing players I think can play in a couple of positions rather than out-and-out in one.
“We’ve got to be flexible depending on what system we play.
“Last year we didn’t have the squad and we need players who play more than one position and offer different things.
“That’s what we’re working towards.
“We’ve got Fum over the line and we’re still speaking to quite a few players.
“I’d like to think a couple should be announced by the end of the week and then we’re close with a goalkeeper as well.
“It’s never easy to fill that position because whoever comes in is always going to be judged against Jonny but the lad we’re bringing in is more than capable.
“I don’t want to say too much until it’s over the line but if we get him, he’ll be good for us.”
Saunders believes Shomotun is a player who will excite Tonbridge fans.
The 26-year-old, who started his senior career at Barnet, trained with Angels this season.
He was still a Sevenoaks player at the time but with Saunders not in the position to do a deal, he ended up at Dartford.
The manager went back in for him following the Darts’ relegation from National League South.
“We never got that right side right last year, whether that was people not quite delivering or injuries,” said Saunders. “It was a side that caused us problems.
“Fum trained with us - the gaffer at Sevenoaks put him on to us through Lloyd Blackman (Angels coach) - and we liked him but we’d just taken Paris Lock and we didn’t have the finances to get anyone else in.
“He went to Dartford but we kept monitoring him and I went to watch him in the London Cup.
“He’s a bit like Sean Shields on the other side in that he likes to get at people.
“Has he got room to improve? One hundred per cent.
“There are times where he could deliver a bit earlier or get his shot off quicker or pass, but what you can’t put into someone is that ability to run at people and beat people.
“I genuinely think he will excite the fans if we can get him playing how we want him to.”
