Tonbridge Angels manager Craig Nelson close to completing his squad as he discusses his first summer in charge of the National League South club

Craig Nelson is close to finalising his Tonbridge squad for the new National League South season.

Nelson has hit the ground running since starting work as Angels manager this summer.

It’s been a busy time - the phone has barely stopped ringing with agents offering players - but Angels have had their targets and the boss is a happy man.

Nine signings have been announced.

They are goalkeeper Jacob Adams, defenders Arthur Penney and Bradley Williams, midfielders Alfie Allen, Jordan Higgs, Marcus Sablier and Matty Warren, and forwards Eddie Simon and Oluwabunmi Babajide.

“We’ve got some good lads in, both as individuals and as a unit,” said Nelson, who has also retained the services of Bailey Akehurst, Nazir Bakrin and Scott Wagstaff, while Sean Shields was already contracted for 2025/26.

“They’re gelling really well, which is good, and we’re nearly there, with maybe only one or two places we want to add.

“We’ve had some trialists come in and do really well and now it’s about making some final decisions but we won’t be hasty in making those decisions, we’ll let it play out organically and see where we land closer to the season.

“With everything being so new, having the base of our structure was really important and getting the lessons in the boys that we’ve got in the room.

“You don’t want to be teaching players that won’t be here everything, so getting that base in was really important to us.”

Higgs’ return - a year after leaving Longmead for local rivals Maidstone - raised a few eyebrows.

He was released by the Stones, 48 hours after captaining them in the National League South play-off final, and Nelson had no issue with bringing him back.

“Do you know what, I think it’s a bit of an unwritten story for Higgo,” said