Byron Napper and Jahmahl King leave Horsham FC

Centre back King has moved to fellow Ryman South side Hastings while midfielder Napper has made the switch to Ryman Premier outfit Lewes.

And though player/manager Gary Charman is confident of keeping the baulk of last season’s squad together he admitted a handful of other players were currently speaking to other clubs.

Charman said: “It’s disappointing to lose both players. I had in mind a certain number of players I wanted to keep and I’ve lost two of those already who will have to be replaced, but I’m hoping not to lose anymore. Three or four (players) are speaking to other clubs so we’ll just have to wait and see.

“But I am speaking to four or five potential new players who have said to me they will be coming to pre-season training, and I am trying to contact others who are on holiday.

“I’ll be disappointed to lose any more but until players sign on the dotted line nothing is certain, at the moment I have signed nobody, not even those who have said they will be back from last year.

“I will be bringing in a number of new faces, we finished 16th in the Ryman South table last year and that is not good enough, we should at least be in the top half and that’s what we’ll be looking to do next season.”

On the departing duo he said: “I knew teams would come in for Jahmahl because he had such a good season last year.

“He wants to go and earn a few more quid and he believes by joining Hastings he has joined title contenders next year, we wish him well.

“Losing Byron in the same week is a blow, he’s been offered a lot more money and Lewes are a league above so as a manager I can’t compete with that.”

King was quoted on the official club website as calling his move “the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make”.

The players return for the first pre-season training session on June 24, with the first scheduled friendly against Newhaven on July 19.