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Hythe Town Announces Squad Changes Ahead of 2025/26 Season

We can confirm that preparations for the 2025/26 season are well underway, with significant changes being made to the current squad as part of a wider rebuilding strategy.

At this stage, the club is in ongoing discussions with several players from last seasons squad including Joe Coleman & Louie Procopi , also a number from the Under-23s squad regarding their involvement for the upcoming season having stepped up to the first team at the end of the season. All other players have been released as the club begins a comprehensive restructure of its playing personnel.

New Cannon’s boss Ira Jackson Jr said:

“We’re rebuilding with purpose—shifting toward a squad built on young, hungry talent who are eager to prove themselves every time they step on the pitch. Over the past week, I’ve had honest conversations with every player from last season’s squad about the direction we want to go in this year. As a result, we’ve made the tough decision to release a number of players in order to reset the culture and lay the foundation for a fresh start. I want to sincerely thank those players for their service and commitment to the club. But this is the start of a new era. Things will be different now—more intensity, more hunger, more pride in wearing the badge. We’re building a team that reflects the identity of Hythe—gritty, ambitious, and proud. One the town can truly get behind.”

Those who have mutually agreed to leave the club for the new season:

· Amadeus Addotey 

· Ellis Brown

· Fikayo Ajayi

· Medy Elito

· Charles Etumnu

· Harry Heath

· George Taggart

· Kelvin Ogboe

· Charlie Wealands 

· Javaun Splatt 

· Oliver Bussey

Hythe Town FC would like to thank all departing players for their contributions and wish them the best in their future careers.

Hythe Town FC Appoint Ira Jackson Jr as First-Team Manager

Hythe Town Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Ira Jackson Jr as the new first-team manager, marking a significant step forward in the club’s commitment to rejuvenation and long-term success.

At 28, Jackson brings a dynamic blend of professional playing experience and a growing reputation as a forward-thinking coach. His playing career includes stints at Grimsby Town in the Football League and two prolific spells at Folkestone Invicta, where he amassed 54 goals in 130 appearances. After retiring from playing in January 2024, Jackson transitioned into coaching, taking roles with Corinthian’s under-23s and most recently as first-team coach at Sheppey United, where he was instrumental in player development and tactical planning. Joining him are Assistant Manager Josh Algar and Coach Stephane Ollier.

“I’m honored to take on the role of manager at Hythe Town,” said Jackson Jr. “This club has a rich history and a passionate fan base. I’m excited to build a team that reflects the community’s spirit and ambition. Together, we’ll work towards a future filled with pride and success.”

Hythe Town Chairman Andy Nanda expressed enthusiasm about the new appointment: “Ira’s energy, vision, and dedication to player development align perfectly with our goals. We believe their knowledge, combined with our commitment to youth development and the integration of our U23s, will forge a clear pathway for talent to shine. We’re confident that under his leadership, the club will embark on an exciting new chapter. -  The dugout is theirs, The future is bright ! Up the Cannons !

Hythe Town Football Club can confirm that First Team Manager Nick Davis has left his position by mutual consent.

The club would like to place on record its thanks to Nick for his commitment, professionalism, and the dedication he has shown throughout his time at Reachfields Stadium.

New Hythe Chairman Andy Nanda said:

“Following open and honest discussions, both parties felt it was the right time to part ways. On behalf of everyone at Hythe Town, I’d like to thank Nick for all of his efforts and we wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”

In the meantime, U23 Manager Martin Chandler will take charge of first-team affairs.

The club will shortly begin the process of appointing a new manager and will provide further updates in due course.

We appreciate the continued support of our fans as we move forward 

CANNONS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

Hythe Town Football Club Limited are delighted to announce that local entrepreneur and hotelier Vishal Nanda (known as Andy) has today Thursday 3 April 2025 been appointed Chairman of our great club following lengthy negotiations with the current board of directors. This appointment sees current Chairman Matthew Smith step down and we grabbed a word with both outgoing and incoming Chairmen along with our outgoing CEO Gary Johnson. Firstly we spoke with Matthew:

“This season has been one of massive ups and downs and this investment by Andy is one much needed for the football club and Reachfields as a community asset.

As a local man (Lyminge) I know how much Andy wants the club to be successful and if half of his plans come to fruition I know just like me all the supporters (inc true ones) will be very excited! 

I came into the club in April 2024 and have tried to have a positive impact on the place and whilst on the field results have not gone the way we all wanted I think everyone has to agree off the field the football club is now un-recognisable from where it was. From a refurbished clubhouse and stadium, pitch upgrade works that did not see one weather related postponement, through to an operating business that clearly details the mismanagement of club funds previously that has seen an increase in matchday takings this season despite less crowds, less games and no FA trophy run. 

Both Gary and I have performed open heart surgery on a football club whilst keeping it trading, something we are both immensely proud of. I am now however consigned to being part of the rich history of Hythe Town FC and played my part along with the current board in this planned investment and wish Andy and his team all the best for the remainder of this season and into next season. 

Am I disappointed to leave a project I feel that is half completed? Yes of course but I am not immune to criticism and need to accept that whilst I have put together the blue print and started the process that should see Hythe Town FC grow from solid foundations our impending relegation is ultimately down to me. Do I accept results and performances on the pitch were not what anyone wanted, yes of course, but unfortunately unlike others I believe in working with my manager not throwing them under the bus when players let them down. A smooth sea never created a skilled sailor! 

To those that I have worked closely with at Reachfields. volunteers, the entire management team, the Board and the supporters who did welcome me and my approach, thank you. Exciting times ahead for everyone in Hythe”

During the meeting we spoke with Gary our outgoing CEO:

“It’s with mixed emotions I depart Reachfields, excitement at the potential the new investors bring, but sadness in that I along with others have not achieved the desired success on the field this season; I can however be content that I enabled the Club to continue when at its lowest ebb (on joining the Board) and rebuilt the Board of Directors which culminated with the appointment of Matt whom succeeded me as Chairman.

I have made many new friends, but cannot deny the criticism levied by a few through social media channels has hurt not only myself but significantly other Board members; Be careful what you wish for!

If the promises made by the new regime come to fruition it will be exciting times ahead for all at Hythe and I will continue to support from afar knowing that in part my efforts have contributed to the bigger picture and future success; I leave Hythe at an exciting time.”

We then grabbed a comment from our new Chairman Andy:

“I have been looking to buy a local non-league football club for a long time now and following discussions with Gary & Matt I could clearly see the potential that  needed to be unlocked here at Reachfields. I will be working towards obtaining planning permission in the coming months to lay a much needed 4G playing surface at Reachfields that will enable every youth team to play and train at our home. I will be looking at every facet of the football club and how I can improve it both functionally and for the good of the local community. I know Matt has modernised the club as a business but I believe there is so much more left to do to give us a home we as the local community are immensely proud of. 

The team on the pitch have not been successful as every supporter has seen but having met Nick (Davis) and spoke with him at length I am confident that once we build on the current links with the new elite youth structure, next season will be one filled with success and Nick and my team will have the players playing an attractive brand of football that all supporters will enjoy here at Reachfields. Winning games of football is what keeps supporters coming to watch games and just like Matt before me I am committed to providing our manager with a healthy budget in whichever League we find ourselves next season.

In closing I would like to thank Gary & Matt along with the current board who have made the transfer as seamless as possible and I like all of you hope they can be around the club next season and beyond. I shall be at tomorrow’s game versus Merstham 3pm kick off where I will hopefully meet a number of you the supporters”

Everyone at the football club is delighted to welcome Andy onboard and as supporters he has advised that during the end of season awards he will elaborate more on his plans for the football club and the team he will be bringing in with him.

UP THE CANNONS – Our Town Stronger Together

Lex departs the Cannons - we would like to thank Lex for all of his efforts with Hythe Town and we wish him well with his footballing future

Hythe Town Football Club are delighted to announce that from the 25/26 Season we will be fielding a new Development Squad and Under 18’s. Both teams will play at Reachfields and we are pleased to announce that we have already appointed ex First Team player and coach Martin Chandler to manage the development squad. Martin holds a UEFA B license and currently manages Hythe Town Youth FC Under 14’s.

Development Squad - U23

The intention is to provide a pathway from Hythe Town Youth through the Under 18’s into the Development Team and ultimately into the First Team. As such players will be selected and given the opportunity to be involved with the First Team, whether that’s through Development game experience, attending First Team training and if proven the opportunity to be directly considered for First Team game experience. Martin will work closely with the First Team Manager and may himself become involved with the First Team under the guidance of Nick Davis to ensure a continuity at all levels of the club.

Equally, this allows Nick to provide real time game experience for players who are either in the First Team squad or fringes thereof together with players returning from injury.

Under 18’s Kent Youth League

Having established a close relationship with Hythe Town Youth FC, where Head Coach Neil Buckley has joined the Board as a Director of the Club, we are now able to offer the Youth the opportunity to further develop and potentially progress into the First Team. Interested players should initially contact Neil Buckley at headcoach@hythetownyouth.co.uk.

Chairman Matthew Smith said “These are exciting times at Hythe Town and this new pathway shows our commitment to developing local players and gives a great opportunity for the current youngsters to make it all the way to first team. They will also get to experience playing their home games at the much-improved Reachfields.”

Development Manager Martin Chandler said “I was really pleased to be asked to lead the new development team for Hythe Town, I’m currently involved with the Youth setup and I’m looking forward to being able to offer a pathway for talented local players into senior football. I’m currently building my backroom staff and once everything is in place we will announce when trials and selection events will take place. 

For anyone interested in joining Martin’s backroom staff please contact Gary Johnson – ceo@hythetownfc.com 

New Signing ✍️: The Cannons are pleased to announce that Lewis White has joined the club

Lewis is a former Millwall graduate and has extensive non league experience having played for Carshalton Athletic, Welling Utd and Worthing FC.

Nick Davis said “Lewis is an exciting winger and will add a new dynamic to our front line.”

Supporters Evening on Monday January 27th, at Reachfields.

Doors Open 18:45pm for 7.30pm start.

Your opportunity to hear from the Chairman, CEO and the First Team Manager and ask those all important questions.

MATCH POSTPONED v’s Merstham FC - the fixture shall be re-scheduled in the coming weeks.

We are pleased to announce that midfielder Harry Young has joined the Cannons on loan from Dover Athletic.

MATCH POSTPONED v’s Broadbridge Heath FC - the fixture shall be re-scheduled in the coming weeks.

Todays Match against East Grinstead has been postponed following a pitch inspection 

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Nick as he has continued his hard work to bring more players into the squad with 5 new players joining the Cannons over the past fortnight.

Winger TT Walters and left-back Tom Carlse have joined from Ramsgate, with centre-back Ollie Gray returning to the Cannons from Sevenoaks.

We have now taken four players from Isthmian South East title favourties Ramsgate in recent weeks, with Walters and Carlse following Medy Elito and Vance Bola to Reachfields. Walters scored his first Cannons goal in a 1-1 draw at Herne Bay, a result that lifted them out of the bottom four. “I’ve been after Tom Carlse for years, since I had him at Sittingbourne,” said Davis. “He’s brilliant, and he was so good on Saturday.

“He’s a leader, he’s a winner, he talks really well and it’s what he gives you going forward as well.

“I haven’t seen many full-backs that give you what he does going forward.

“He’s so intelligent with his runs and his overlaps but not only that, he drives inside as well.

“He’s such a threat going forward, when you’ve got decent wingers anyway, so he’s going to give us that.

“TT’s got good pedigree. I’ve seen him before and he’s a great lad. I remember seeing him at Greenwich Borough a few years ago and thinking, ‘Cor, he’s lively, how have they got him?’ and from there, he kicked on.”

Gray is another player Davis knows well following their time together at Sittingbourne and Ramsgate.

“I played with Ollie at Sittingbourne,” said Davis. “I must have been 31 or 32 and he was probably 21 and we formed a decent partnership. “I took him to Ramsgate when I managed there, too.

“He’s a good lad, he knows these levels really well. “He was harshly sent off on Saturday but he’s another good addition. “He’s played for Hythe a couple of times before and was keen to come back.”

Transfer activity should slow down, with the squad in a good place. It’s a case of climbing the league, with Hythe hosting Sevenoaks this Saturday (3pm). “I think we’re OK for now,” said Davis.

“There’s a good buzz and we’ve got a decent changing room now. “We’ve got some really good options, it’s trying to get that balance right but you can’t magic up a team, it takes time. “That Deal side have been together about four years and people have to realise that.

“We’re confident we can get away from the bottom four and push up the league, we really are.

“Recruitment hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be. “We’re bringing in some good players, some good names. “If we can get out of this period the club’s in at the minute, I think it will be a very attractive proposition going forward. “I’ve seen enough now to think, ‘Hang on, we can recruit’ and, given time, we’ll be a very good side. “Sides can be together for six months and have a whole pre-season, it doesn’t mean it’s going to click straight away either, but we’ve not had that. “But I knew the hand I was dealt and we knew players would slowly become available and they are now.”

In addition to the players signed Sam Smith & Riley Court have returned to Maidstone United following their loan spell at the club and Oscar Webb has also left the club, we wish them all well and thank them for their time at Hythe Town.

We are pleased to announce that striker Vance Bola has signed for the Cannons

We are pleased to announce that Vance has become the latest signing of manager Nick Davis. 

Nick said “Vance is a great addition to the squad, he is a proven goal scorer at this level and adds a new dynamic to our attacking options."

Vance joins us from Ramsgate having had previous spells at fellow Isthmian league teams Herne Bay, Ashford, Margate and Sittingbourne.

Following our victory in the first round of the Kent Senior Cup we are now drawn away to Deal Town with the fixture to be played on Tuesday 22nd October at 7.45pm.

The Cannons are pleased to announce that Sam Smith & Riley Court have joined on loan from Maidstone United

Nick Davis said “We are really pleased to bring Sam & Riley in to the squad, both players are highly rated and will strengthen the core of the team.” He also added “It is great to have such a good relationship with a side of Maidstone’s stature, we all saw how impressive they were last season and we are pleased to have a partnership with them.”

We face Erith Town on Saturday in the league, 3.00pm kickoff at Reachfields, come on down and support your Cannons.

 Nick feels he is making progress in attacking areas as he looks to add more of a goal threat to his side. Nick has signed Alex Gibson-Hammond, a young striker who spent time at National League South club Hampton & Richmond last year.

Anthony Adesite and Kelvin Ogboe are also on board, appearing in a 2-0 Velocity Cup defeat at Deal last night as Davis addresses an area where the Cannons were short.

“We’re slowly getting there,” said Davis, who is also looking at ex-Derby man Jahmal Hector-Ingram.

“We need more attacking options. “When I came to the club we had Bruno Tavares, and Sammi Takaloo was the only other attacking option. “We had no wingers, no No.10, nothing. “It’s important we’re able to pose some sort of threat and the additions we’re making will give us an edge going forward.” Hythe have also signed midfielders Michael Aziaya and Siao Blackwood.

Like Gibson-Hammond, they made their debuts as the Cannons came from a goal down to beat Herne Bay 2-1 in Isthmian South East on Tuesday last week.

Lex Allan and Tavares, with a penalty, scored the goals as Davis picked up his first win since taking charge last month. The new lads also appeared at the weekend as a goal five minutes from time saw the Cannons edged 1-0 by Sevenoaks. Davis said: “It was great to get that first win. It was a bit nervy towards the end but we were deserved winners. “It was good because we’ve gone from having three subs and seven teenagers in the FA Trophy to bringing in two or three new players and it makes a huge difference. “I was disappointed we didn’t get anything at Sevenoaks - I think we deserved at least a draw - but the performance showed the progress we’re making which is the main thing.

“I felt we were a bit leggy at the end where our fitness isn’t the best at the minute.

“That’s something we’ve got to work on in training and then you need the players to do their own bits outside football as well.“That’s just where we are at. It’ll take a bit of time but that’s fine.”

Full story on Kentonline website.

The Club are please to announce that Lex Allan has been named as the new captain of Hythe Town following Jack Steventon’s departure.

Manager Nick Davis said “Lex is our captain now,”

“He was delighted when I offered it to him and he’s probably been our best player. He’s been fantastic.

“I’ve known him a long time and he’s grown into a fantastic player. He’s certainly progressed. He’s very consistent, very good in the air and decent on the ball. “He’s a good all-round centre-half at this level.”

The club welcome Nick Davis as our manager following the departure of Sammy Moore.

Nick has had a number of managerial roles starting with a spell as joint manager of Sittingbourne in 2014 before standing down but returned as sole manager in the same year. In 2018 he left Sittingbourne going on to be assistant at Sheppey United. He managed Ramsgate for a short while before taking over at VCD Athletic in September 2020 after being assistant manager at Faversham Town.

He left to go back to Sittingbourne in 2022, but things didn’t work out and departed last year. He had playing experience at Maidstone United, Fisher, Ramsgate, Tonbridge Angels and Sittingbourne.

A Cannons statement said: “The Cannons are delighted to announce the appointment of Nick Davis as our new manager. With a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success, Nick brings a fresh perspective and dynamic leadership to the team. Join us in welcoming Nick to the Cannons family, and let’s look forward to an exciting new chapter together.”

Hythe Town FC can confirm Sammy Moore has resigned as first team manager with immediate effect.

The process of appointing a new manager to take the club forward is now underway. The club would like to place on record their thanks to Sammy and Darren for all of their hard work since taking over last season.

The football club will make no further comment.