Kent's Blue Square Bet South clubs ready

Hayes is about to start his second season as Dover manager

Five Kent clubs are preparing for the start of the Blue Square Bet South season hoping to follow in neighbours Ebbsfleet's footsteps last year.

The Fleet won promotion through the play-offs at the first time of asking and Dover, Dartford, Welling, Bromley and Tonbridge want to follow them up.

Dover just missed out play-offs last season and are one of the favourites.

Tonbridge Angels are playing their first season at that level after promotion from the Ryman League.

Dover Athletic will have to recover from the loss of three players to League Two Gillingham, including 45-goal top scorer Adam Birchall, although manager Martin Hayes has made a number of new signings.

Birchall's place up front goes to George Purcell, who has joined from York City, while former Rushden & Diamonds trio Shane Huke, Michael Corcoran and Matt Johnson have also moved to Crabble.

Manager Hayes said: "There's always pressure on whoever is manager of Dover. Every year there is going to be the expectation we are going up. I don't think that will change. But I've got players who are used to the big occasion and I hope they will relish the challenge."

BBC Radio Kent commentator Matt Gerrard said: "A very different Dover side will line up from the squad Hayes inherited a year ago but he can now officially call the squad his own. A decent start to the season will be demanded in the face of some tricky fixtures."

Dartford are about to start their second season in Blue Square Bet South having finished 10th last year following a strong finish to the season.

Manager Tony Burman, whose summer signings include midfielder Jon Wallis from Dover, is expecting to improve on that this year and is thinking about top five.

He said: "We're aiming for the play-offs. Every manager wants to win the league but reality kicks in and it's a long way to go until the end of April."

Tonbridge manager Tommy Warrilow is determined not to just be making up the numbers in the first Blue Square Bet South season in their history.

Jon Main, Anthony Storey and Tim Olurunda have all rejoined the club in the summer and defender Ben Andrews also arrives at Longmead.

Warrilow said: "I believe I've got a set of lads capable of playing at this level and not being in awe of anyone. This is the first season we haven't been spoken about in terms of promotion, some are even talking in terms of relegation.

"We want to go out and prove those people wrong."

BBC Radio Kent's Matt Gerrard said: "Pre-season started with a demoralising 10-0 home defeat by Brentford but that has been used as a tool to motivate the squad. Scoring goals should not be an issue with club legend Jon Main returning."

Welling United overcame financial problems and a transfer embargo to finish sixth in 2010/11 and player-manager Jamie Day is expecting his players to perform just as well this season.

Many people felt that adversity was a catalyst to their success last year but Day thinks there was more to their good season than that.

He said: "We have to try and have that backs to the wall mentality again this year, but we have a good team spirit and hope we can use that.

"The league will be harder than last season so we will need to raise our game, but I think we can be around the play-offs again.

"We have to look to get into the top six. We've kept the bulk of the players from last year and they have to keep to the level we expect and they need to."

Bromley welcome Mark Goldberg back for his third spell as manager. Last season he guided Bromley to seven straight wins from the start of the season before he left at the start of 2011 and the club slipped to 11th.

BBC Radio Kent's Matt Gerrard said: "With youth now being given the opportunity to impress they will be difficult to beat and are sure to have learned lessons from last season."

Opening day fixtures

Saturday 13 August 2011
Dover v Dorchester
Hampton & Richmond v Bromley
Maidenhead v Tonbridge
Welling v Staines
Weston Super Mare v Dartford