Title-winning Ramsgate defender Jay Leader set for Australia move but door remains open | Ex-Football League midfielder Anthony Grant joins Isthmian Premier new boys

Ramsgate manager Ben Smith says the door is always open for defender Jay Leader to stay at Southwood.

Leader, a key member of last season’s Isthmian South East title-winning squad, looks set to move to Australia.

But if he ends up remaining in the UK, the centre-half is welcome to continue his career with the Isthmian Premier new boys.

“It’s looking likely he’s going to Australia,” said Smith.

“For me, he’d be one of the best players in this league, so if it does happen, and he does go, it would be a huge blow.

“We can’t dress it up any other way.

“The key thing is he’s not going to another club.

“He’s had lots of offers from people.

“I don’t know when he’ll actually go to Australia.

“At the minute it’s looking like August but that was potentially going to happen last year and didn’t.

“All the time he’s not on that plane, there’s a chance, and the door for Jay is always open.

“A player like that, if he suddenly does a U-turn, we would never turn down that opportunity to keep him.

“He’s a top lad and a cracking player and we all love him at the club.”

Leader was one of five Ramsgate players named in the Isthmian South East team-of-the-season as Smith’s men won the championship with 109 points.

He was colossal at the back and chipped in with vital goals.

“I’d probably say he was the best player in the league last year - I would go that far,” said Smith.

“He was in the team-of-the-year, so it’s not just me saying it, lots of other managers have seen it as well.”

Ramsgate have completed the signing of former Jamaica international midfielder Anthony Grant.

The 38-year-old, who left Welling towards the end of last season, started his career at Chelsea.

He made his Blues debut as a late substitute in a 3-1 Premier League win at