BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent boss Tom Rothery has hailed "Rolls Royce" defender Matt Cripps after the club captain put pen to paper on a new contract at the Taydal Stadium.

The 25-year-old has signed a one-year deal and will begin his sixth season with the Bostik League outfit.

He follows in the footsteps of many of his team-mates, including Josh and Jake Gould, Jake Turner and top-scorer Billy Hunt.

Rothery said: “Matt's been at the club a long time and is a massively important figure, so it’s great we've been able to sign him again.

"He's a pivotal player for the team and he's adapted to the new level very well.

"He’s still ambitious, has so many strengths to his game and, while I'm biased, I don’t think there’s many better centre-backs about, certainly at this level.

"Personally, I still feel there’s so much more to come from Matt.

"But he already does so much more than defend and, for me, he’s a Rolls Royce defender."

Rothery is delighted that so many of last season's squad have committed for the 2018/19 campaign.

The club are looking to build on their progress last term, when they were competing at step three level for the first time.

They already have some pre-season friendlies in the diary and kick-off with an eye-catching match at home to an Ipswich Town XI, on July 14.

They then visit Brantham Athletic on July 17 before fixtures against Needham Market (home, July 20), FC Clacton (home, July 24), Long Melford (away, July 27), AFC Sudbury (away, July 31) and Bowers and Pitsea (home, August 4).

"We've a real core of players who know how (assistant boss) Pip (Boyland) and I work, how the club works and what we stand for as a club," added Rothery.

"That, for me, is really important when new players come in.

"They see how these players conduct themselves on and off the pitch and it means they can help the new players settle quicker.

"That can only be a good thing for the team."

Meanwhile, recent signing Brad James will no longer be joining Regent.

A new position at work means he cannot commit to step three football.

James recently moved to Brightlingsea from Tendring neighbours FC Clacton.