Herne Bay player-manager Liam Friend is busy assembling a new-look team for the 2025/26 Isthmian South East season

Herne Bay player-manager Liam Friend is enjoying a different kind of summer.

Friend has stepped up to manage the Isthmian South East side ahead of the 2025/26 season and is busy putting together a new-look squad.

With up to 10 new players in the door it’s been a busy few weeks for the new boss.

“It’s been good,” said Friend. “Football’s in my blood and I’ve been doing it for a long time, and although it’s time consuming, it’s enjoyable. I knew what was coming.

“Did I properly understand exactly what was going on? No, but I don’t think anyone does until they do it. I’m not worried about hard work and things like that.

“Luckily, my partner and my family are quite understanding that football’s important to me and has been important to me for a long time.

“It’s a bit different and I think one thing that’s hugely different is going over to the ground a lot during the closed season. That’s probably one of the biggest changes.

“I’ve been captain everywhere I’ve been pretty much, so I’ve had probably had a bit more experience of those senior roles than just the standard player, but nothing’s like being a manager.”

Herne Bay were due to host a Q&A for supporters tonight (Thursday), with Friend joined by chairman Matt Barman to discuss the new season ahead and possibly reveal a few of their summer recruits.

It won’t be long before they’re in action either as Bay are set to host Kennington at Winch’s Field on Tuesday night.

Friend, who was keeping the newcomers under wraps for now, said: “We’ve got six or seven from last year signed up and then I’ve got eight or nine, maybe 10 new players signed.

“We’ve got quite a lot of the squad signed and agreed but I’ve been in football long enough to know that the team that starts the first