Whitstable Town manager Marcel Nimani expects promotion spots to be keenly contested when new Southern Counties East League season gets under way

Whitstable manager Marcel Nimani predicts the new Southern Counties East Premier Division campaign will be an exciting one.

The Oystermen, who came fifth in their first campaign back at Step 5, will hope to earn an Isthmian League return.

But Faversham have already recruited plenty of talented players this summer, having suffered relegation alongside Corinthian and VCD.

Nimani is aware of the threat those three teams could pose but also thinks third-placed Deal, fourth-placed Erith Town and Rusthall, who finished a position behind the Oystermen, could be in the promotion mix-up as well.

He said: “We’re looking forward to the challenges ahead. It looks like it’s going to be an extremely exciting season.

“There are some good clubs with exciting projects that have come into our league.

“There are teams who already are strong if you look at the likes of Deal Town and Erith Town, and even Rusthall, who came on strong towards the end. These sides have had the same management and the same group of players for quite some time.

“They came close last year and I expect they’ll be strong this year.

“When we were looking through the league, we were predicting there will be at least eight or nine teams that have got a good budget.”

Unlike in previous years, however, two sides will definitely be promoted from the league.

A play-off system is set to be introduced, which will allow a club who finish between second and fifth to earn promotion alongside the champions. Nimani had been vocal in his support of the introduction of a four-team play-off system at the level.

He said: “I think, with having the play-offs, that will enthuse, energise and keep teams invested in the competition.

“It will be a competitive league from day one all the