Hythe Town striker Ashley Miller is considering a move to local rivals Folkestone Invicta.

Miller left Maidstone to sign for the Cannons in September, with manager Tim Dixon saying he hoped the 20-year-old former Gillingham star would play "a major part" in Town’s season.

But Invicta made a seven-day approach at the weekend to speak to Miller, who’s currently recovering from a hamstring injury.

Dixon said: "I hope he stays. I don’t want him to go anywhere. It would be a massive loss if he went.

"No-one has a right to be in the team but he gives us an edge when he’s on his game.

"I had him on loan at Ramsgate and I’ve always looked after him. He’s a good lad and he knows where the land lies with me.

"Does he want to go to a club where he doesn’t know how they operate? Maybe a fresh challenge is something he needs. But he’s been playing regularly for me and it might not be the same if he goes to Folkestone."

Miller had two loan spells at Hythe while Scott Porter was manager. He’s scored nine goals in 15 appearances for the Cannons since making a permanent return to Reachfields – but, crucially, he’s not contracted to Hythe.

Dixon said: "Unless you put people on contract, you’ve got no hold over them. Maybe I should have put him on a contract but I don’t know whether he would have signed it anyway.

"I might get stick for not putting him on a contract.

"But (goalkeeper) Dan Eason’s on contract and he’s been missing (through injury) for a few months and we still have to cover that contract.

"You don’t know how you’re going to get on with injuries and it can kill you as a football club (if it happens to contracted players)."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.