New-look Lancers are taking shape

Among the newcomers is striker Dominic Shepherd, experienced ex-Worthing midfielder Owen Hill, former Burgess Hill youngster Connor Wilkins and Owen Callaghan, from Shoreham.

The other new faces are ex-Eastbourne Borough duo Ollie Hartley and James Shaw, who played for Shoreham last season, and former Peacehaven striker Jack Loraine. Whittington has also re-signed stalwart defender Dave Sharman, as well as securing the signature of a number of promising young players who were at the club last season, including George Fenton and Jack Phillips.

Whittington said: “The new players will give us the perfect mix of youth and experience.

“You can’t get more experienced than Dom Shepherd and Owen Hill, they have played at a high level and are quality players. When you combine that with the quality of our young players then it gives us a extra dimension.

“Connor (Wilkins), Ollie (Hartley), James (Shaw) and Jack (Loraine) and the other young players who have stayed are all highly rated and they will give us a combination of energy, enthusiasm and skill on the ball.

“What I like most about the players coming in, though, is their attitude. They all want to play for the club and want to do well. I want to have a squad that is full of winners and is hungry for success and we are slowly getting there.”

Whittington has had to re-build the squad almost from scratch since taking over this summer after most of last year’s side left the club.

He said: “Most of last season’s players have gone to try their luck elsewhere, which is to be expected, and I wish them all the best.”