Lewes manager Steven King has boosted hopes of a stronger promotion challenge next season by persuading two key players to sign new contracts.

King remains driven by the challenge of leading the Rooks into the Conference National.

And he feels the signings of defender Leon Legge and goalkeeper Steve Williams are fundamental to those plans.

Last night King revealed Legge had signed a new two-year deal while former Wycombe keeper Williams had penned a one-year agreement.

The signings would also seem to pour cold water on rumours linking King with the manager's position at AFC Wimbledon.

The Rooks finished ninth in Conference south this season after being tipped as promotion favourites at the start of the campaign.

A catalogue of injuries did not help but King is determined to assemble an even better squad to challenge for promotion next year.

He is targeting four signings over the summer but retaining the bulk of his current squad is also fundamental to those plans.

Legge was in excellent form in the second half of the season when Lewes lost just three league games between Boxing Day and the end of the season.

His form attracted the offer of trials from two League clubs and King is delighted he has committed his future to Lewes.

He said: "Leon got better as the season went on. I was very impressed with the way he has conducted himself in the second half of the season when he did very well.

"I also did not want to lose Steve Williams. Sometimes it takes goalkeepers a while to settle but Steve kept seven clean sheets in 17 appearances which is very good.

"Havant were trying to sign him and this shows he is serious about us."

Williams was playing in the play-off semi-final for Wycombe this time last year but was released by the Chairboys in January after falling out of favour.

At 24 he remains ambitious to work his way back up the ladder but feels he can achieve that at Lewes.

King already has ten of last season's squad committed to the club, including skipper Paul Kennett and top scorer Paul Booth who signed new deals in the closing weeks of the season.

Winger Andy Drury, who was regularly watched by League scouts last year, signed a new contract with the club in December while others, such as Gary Holloway, were already on two-year deals.

Eastbourne Borough have made their first signing of the season with the capture of former Albion scholar Dan Leach from Hailsham.

Leach scored 42 goals for Hailsham in the County League this season, having been released by the Seagulls last summer.

The 20-year-old is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Pat Harding, who scored 14 goals in his debut season for Borough after joining the club from County League side Hassocks.