Ray Turner wants to protect Faversham’s promising crop of youngsters from being snapped up by rivals by putting them on contracts.

After forcing his way into the side after joining from Maidstone, 18-year-old former Gills and Dover youngster Liam King is set to follow defender Dan Carrington, 19, in committing his future to the Salters Lane club.

Town boss Turner said: “Liam has committed to the club and agreed a contract which will keep him here this season and next.

“I’d like to sign a few of the younger lads on to contracts because we have done well at bringing young players through and giving them an opportunity.

"We want to protect our young players.”

Turner is also hoping he can hold on to on-loan Maidstone keeper Will Godman, 20, who is subject of a seven-day approach from Hastings.

Turner said: “He’s been great for us and I’m hoping we can keep him at the club.

“Again we have offered a young player the chance to get away from the bench, given them the opportunity to play and I suppose put himself in the shop window so that other teams want to come and take him away from us.”

Godmon impressed as Town beat Sittingbourne 1-0 on Saturday to make it one defeat in 14 in all competitions.

Turner added: “It was just a case of getting the points on a day when most of our rivals either dropped points or didn’t play. I and the team have been here before – it’s a critical time of the year and a vital time for any team wanting to compete.

“There were a lot of mud, sweat and tears but 10 points from 12 over Christmas and the New Year is a good return.

“If we can keep that ratio going until the end of the season, we’ll do well.”

Town are fourth, within three points of second-placed Worthing and now have a three-point cushion over Dorking in sixth, sat outside the play-off places, although Turner is pessimistic about the chances of Saturday’s game at South Park (3pm) going ahead.

He said: “With the weather forecast and them not having a great history of getting games on there, I’m not too optimistic.

“It’s a shame because we want to keep the momentum going and try to keep playing one game a week at least.”

Tuesday’s Ryman League Cup quarter-final at home to Dorking was postponed.