Steven King has begun a major overhaul of his Lewes squad in a bid to claim a place in the Conference National.

Five new signings were unveiled by the Lewes manager last night, including former Crawley captain Ian Simpemba.

And King hopes to tie up the signatures of three more players in the next couple of weeks.

Four of the five new faces have come from a higher level, which will surely make the Rooks a force to be reckoned with in Conference south next season.

Paul Booth, a prolific striker with Welling and Cambridge City, Aldershot fullback Lewis Hamilton and Gravesend pair Andy Drury and Jay Saunders complete the arrivals list.

A delighted King said: "Out of all the players we went after, there is only one we missed out on yet they have all been offered more money elsewhere.

"It is another sense of achievement that these players can feel the ambition here. They can see things happening with the ground and they can see what we are trying to achieve.

"We want to get into the play-offs and whatever happens beyond that is a bonus. I would also like a run in the FA Cup, because that is one thing I have not achieved since I have been here."

Lewes have finished in a play-off position in Conference south for the last two seasons but have been denied the chance to take part due to a lack of facilities at the Dripping Pan.

Ground improvements are already under way to ensure the club will be in a position to go up next season and King is determined to get things right on the pitch.

In announcing his signings, King confirmed winger Mo Harkin has left to join Havant and Waterlooville, while French midfielder Mogaro Gomis has also departed.

Talks are on-going with former England semi-professional captain Roscoe D'Sane about extending his brief stay at the club and fellow front man Manny Omoyinmi has been invited back for pre-season training.

Other players already committed for next season are Jean-Michel Sigere, Paul Wilkerson, Dean Hooper, Steve Robinson, Leon Legge, Simon Wormull, Paul Kennett, Lee Farrell, Aaron France and Steve Elliott. Karl Beckford should soon follow suit.

King has clinched the signing of Simpemba at the second attempt. The former Wycombe and Republic of Ireland under-21 defender almost joined Lewes after being made available for loan by Crawley in March but instead signed for Aldershot.

The Shots, Hereford and Woking were all interested in signing Simpemba but Lewes were the only club that had made a firm offer.

Booth, who comes from Tunbridge Wells, is regarded as one of the best strikers in non-league football and scored the goal which knocked Lewes out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage last season.

Hamilton, a pacey fullback, began his career at Derby County, made one League appearance for Queens Park Rangers and was a regular with Aldershot last season.

Saunders is a midfielder who started his career at Gillingham and has lots of Conference National experience with Margate and Gravesend, for whom he scored 12 goals last season.

Speedy winger Drury, 22, was being chased by a number of clubs including newly promoted Hereford and Accrington Stanley but wanted to stay in the south.

While King is delighted to get his men, he has hit out at suggestions Lewes are paying vast sums of money to attract players.

King's budget would surprise his detractors with the Lewes boss admitting he cannot compete on a financial level with a number of other sides in Conference south.

He said: "The way Stuart Cash (assistant) and I work is to sell the ambition of the club. It is not always about money. Yes, they get an okay deal for this level but it is not the sums that are being banded around.

"Our man-management and ambition is what wins them over. You cannot stop speculation but people have to realise not everyone is money orientated. We might be offering less money but our potential is something they cannot get elsewhere."