Matt Whitehead has told Worthing he will be back next season if a trial at League One side Charlton does not work out.

The English Schools’ under-18s left-back is one of seven Rebels who have said to new manager Chris White they will return for the start of pre-season training.

But Whitehead, 18, also has a week-long trial with Charlton to look forward to at the start of July.

White is happy Whitehead, pictured, has the chance and is also pleased with the way his squad rebuilding is taking shape two weeks after landing the job.

A number of players have left as expected, including four to Whitehawk and skipper Paul Kennett to Horsham, but Ryan Woodford, Ben Johnson, Jamie Groves, Charlie Farmer and Adam Mitchell, Ben Bowra and Whitehead have said they intend to stay.

White is also hoping for a similar answer for Stuart Axten before he goes on holiday this weekend while “eight or nine” players who played under him at Horsham YMCA last season are expected to sign in the next few days.

Two other signings have also been lined up while Josh Biggs, Matt Axell, Ruben French and Harry Constable will be coming to pre-season. Biggs and Axell played for Arundel last season, French is a former Albion scholar who ended the campaign at Wick and Constable is a former Worthing youngster.