Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Devonshire reckons he doesn’t have to recruit a straight replacement for departed defender Ryan Lake - because he has a ready-made one in Craig Tanner.

Former Brentford trainee Lake departed the Beveree this week to team up with Ryman League Premier Division new boys Kingstonian after the Station Road manager gave Ks counterpart Alan Dowson a glowing reference.

Tanner suffered an horrific broken leg against Blue Square South champions AFC Wimbledon in November that ended his season having found his best form in a Beavers shirt.

The former Sutton United man is back in full training and is expected to start the season although he will be used sparingly during the pre-season friendly schedule.

And Devonshire, who is expected to add to his squad before the end of the week, reckons his return will be like signing a new player in itself.

“Ryan has done a great job for me in the three or four years he has been here, but with the injuries he had last year the boy just needs to be playing,” he said.

“We had a chat and it was a mutual thing that he left. It was unlikely he was going to feature regularly and he needs games at this time in his career.

“I spoke to Dowse and pushed him in that direction. It is a great move for him and a great one for Kingstonian. He is a good player with a good left foot and can hit a long pass.

“Craig is nearly fully fit and was one of players of the season last year until he got injured. We will have to see how he goes with the first tackle and that, but it will good to have him back.”

Hampton will kick-off their Blue Square South campaign with Basingstoke Town on August 8 before travelling to Newport County four days later.

And, despite the arrival of fallen giants Woking and big-spending Dover Athletic - alongwith old foe Staines Town - Devonshire reckons his side has as good a chance as anyone of enjoying another successful campaign.

“The most consistent team and the ones that avoid injuries are always going to be the ones up around the top, so there is still a lot of luck involved,” he added.

“We may have beaten a lot of the teams in this league before, but you only have to look at what happened to Newcastle United that reputation counts for nothing.

“We can only concentrate on getting to 50 points first and then seeing what happens.”