CANVEY Island manager Danny Heale says he is building a team that can challenge at the top of the Isthmian North next season.

The Gulls boss added six new faces to his squad over the weekend, despite the considerable loss of last year’s top goalscorer George Sykes.

James Walker and Sam Collins join from National League South pair East Thurrock United and Concord Rangers respectively, while Teddy Nesbitt, who also played for Rocks last term, has signed.

Seventeen-goal Bowers & Pitsea striker David Knight, plus his team-mate from last season Luke Wilson, will play at the Frost Financial Stadium in 2017/18.

And Albert Levett returns to the club, having spent the last four years playing in the USA while studying at university.

“In this league you need athleticism, pace, youth and experience,” said Heale.

“We have a good balance and a team capable of battling at the top end.

“Over the last few years I have had a list of 20 or so and tried to get who I wanted, but we have been more clever this time.

“We highlighted six or seven names and have signed six of them. We want to hit the ground running.

“James Walker is our target man and he played more than 30 times in the National League last season.

“Sammy Collins is a Canvey boy and he has always wanted to play for his home town club. He will be a key performer and a valuable addition to the midfield.

“For players like this to drop down two leagues is a credit to the club.

“Teddy also has that experience, while David is a proven goalscorer and will work well with Walks.

“He got 17 goals for Bowers last year and 29 in the former Ryman Premier League a few years ago.

“I played with Luke Wilson at Concord and I have kept my eye on him. He impressed me at Grays and has developed a lot.

“Albert Levett is like a younger Ryan Blackman. All these guys are hugely exciting.”

Heale has also managed to retain the services of Marlon Agyakwa, Blackman, Ashley Dumas, Mitchell Gilbey, Conor Gough, Callum Ibe, Omarr Lawson, Jake Pitty, Steve Sheehan and Elliott Warren for the new season.

The Canvey chief added he has several formations he would be working on with the Gulls in pre-season come the start of July.

Sykes, who netted 21 goals last year, has joined National League South side Braintree Town.

And Heale said it was always going to be tough to keep the striker.

“It was always going to be difficult,” he said.

“He turned down a lot of clubs before Braintree came in, but they are close to his work and he would have stayed otherwise.

“But we have settled on a way we want to play next season and I am confident we will be OK.

“We are in talks with another centre half and another midfield player at the moment,” he added.

“But, all-in-all, I am pleased with how things are going so far.”