Clive Cook admits he is not sure how best to bid farewell to Football League-bound striker Alfie May on Saturday.

May’s move to League 2 leaders Doncaster Rovers is ‘done and dusted’ as far as Cook is concerned and May will head north after Saturday’s game against Faversham to link-up with his new team ahead of their January 2 game against Stevenage – the first club to offer May a trial this season.

Hythe boss Cook said: “Hopefully, this game will be the last we ever see of him at this level. He’s a smashing lad, easy to manage. He just wants to work hard and play football.

“I’m not sure whether to start him or bring him off the bench. Do I go with my head or my heart?

“We want to say goodbye but at the same time I don’t want to think that one tackle could undo all the hard work he’s put in.”

May has come off the bench in the past two games and Cook said: “We’ve been preparing for life after Alfie for a while. There’s no point in doing it after he’s gone.

“We’ve brought Dean Grant in and we have Jay May back fit, both of those are plusses and Frankie Sawyer has his head down and is working hard.”

He added: “Alfie’s created an awful lot of interest and it’s great to see that Football League clubs can find talent in non-league players. It shows the players there is a pathway there for them if they work hard enough.”

The Cannons’ 3-1 win at Chatham on Tuesday saw them return to the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-off places.

Cook said: “It’s another three points from a derby. We’d not played in 10 days so it was not about how we won, just that we did.

“We’ve got ourselves back on track. I expect the table to settle down soon so it will be interesting to see where we end up.

“We’ve got a tough month coming up but (leaders) Dorking are catchable.”

Nick Reeves and Jay May are available for Saturday and Monday’s visit of Ramsgate (3pm),