Sheppey United joint-manager Ian Batten targets Isthmian South East play-off challenge after two extra spots introduced this season

Sheppey United are aiming to make the most of the new play-off format in Isthmian South East.

There are six play-off places up for grabs, rather than four, a change that has the Ites targeting a promotion challenge.

They’ve rebuilt the squad after surviving on the final day of last season and want to fight at the other end of the table.

“We’re hopeful for a good season,” said joint-manager Ian Batten.

“They’ve opened up another two places in the play-offs, so I think we’ll be one of many clubs that will try and target that.

“It keeps the season alive for a lot of teams. I think it’s fantastic that they’ve opened up another two spaces.”

Sheppey start the season at newly-promoted Horley Town on Saturday (3pm) before hosting Margate in a Kent derby at Holm Park on Tuesday (7.45pm).

It’s been a summer of change for the Ites and they aren’t done yet.

“We’d like to get one or two more bodies through the door in certain positions and we’re hopeful on that but people have to understand it is going to take a bit of time,” said Batten.

“When we looked at the squad, we already had in our head we were going to keep three of the boys from last season, so we had to go right through it from the keeper up to the centre-forward in terms of getting personnel in.

“We’ve tried to build a squad that me and George base ourselves on, which is a fit one. We’ve got ambition. You don’t want to talk it down, you want to try and bring it up.”

Horley lost 3-2 to Beckenham in the FA Cup extra preliminary round last weekend, while Sheppey 6-2 Kennington in a replay on Tuesday night, following a 1-1 draw at Homelands.

Mikey Salako scored twice for the Ites, with D’Jean Spencer, Alfred Evans, Harry Lawrence and Jack O’Neill also on target in the big