Lewes are hoping to bolster their midfield options by signing former Albion player Scott Chamberlain.

The 21-year-old has been training with the Rooks and manager Steve Ibbitson is confident he will sign.

Chamberlain was part of Albion’s successful under-18 side that knocked Chelsea and Blackburn out of the FA Cup in 2006.

He made his first-team debut as a substitute in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie away to Bristol City in 2007 but was released in January this year after failing to make any further appearances and finished last season at Bognor.

Ibbitson said: “Scott has been training with us and I am hopeful he will sign. I have been very impressed with his touch. He can pass the ball, keep the ball and we like the look of him.

“He finds space well and is one of a number of players who have impressed us.”

Skipper Danny Cullip is the only player Lewes have under contract for next season but Ibbitson is hoping to sign a number of players over the next few days.

These include existing players such as Rikki Banks, Anthony Barness, David Wheeler, Ryan Timms and Ryan Storrie who have said they will sign plus some new faces such as Scott Kirkwood from Worthing, Eastbourne United’s Sam Crabb and Horsham midfielder Williams Peauroux.

Ibbitson is also hopeful the likes of Joe Keehan and Chris Breach, who have been to every training session, will commit themselves to the club.

He intends to work with a squad of 16 which will be supplemented by under-18 players Tim Rivers, Ross Sutton and Grant Hall, who each tasted first-team action last season. Like Chamberlain, French midfielder Peauroux has impressed in training but Ibbitson has refuted claims by Horsham boss John Maggs that he is joining the Rooks because he has been offered better terms.

Lewes are still waiting on an answer from HM Customs and Excise that they will be allowed to repay tax debts in staged payments and, although the club is hopeful of a positive response, they are also aware of the implications of a negative answer which would almost certainly mean going into administration and being relegated a number of divisions.

Ibbitson said: “It is certainly not the case that we have offered him more money. We could have signed him a lot earlier if that had been the case.

“The fact is we haven’t got much money but the pull with all these lads is that they want to play the highest standard they can, which is what we can offer.

“Williams has indicated to us he would like to sign. He is one like Scott Kirkwood and Scott Chamberlain who has looked good in training.”

Ibbitson is happy with the way the squad is taking shape, although a big centre forward remains on his radar. He added: “If we can get the players we are looking at I think it will be a well-balanced squad with good players.

“We need to make sure we are good on the ball, which is how we like to play, but also that we play with some aggression because it (Blue Square south) is a competitive league.

“If I had one concern it is making sure we are aggressive enough and one thing is to find a big, aggressive front player who can give us other options.”

Lewes are hoping that supporters will join them at the Dripping Pan on Sunday to help with some jobs around the ground such as painting and clearing up. Ibbitson and assistant Jason Hopkinson are taking refreshments for anyone who can help from 10am to 12.30pm.