Clive Cook believes Hythe’s team spirit will make them a match for the richest clubs in Ryman League Division 1 South this season.

Town start their campaign at Godalming on Saturday with the boss claiming the league is much stronger now than it was in 2015-16.

But as he begins his first full season in management, Cook is confident the togetherness in his squad gives them an edge over sides which have been put together over the summer.

He said: "There’s eight to 10 teams, maybe more, who will all be challenging.

"I don’t think you can write anyone off. There’s a lot of money being spent and it’s frightening.

"I don’t think there’s any easy teams now. My top six sides would be Greenwich, Hastings, Lewes, Dorking, Faversham and hopefully us.

"But there’s more teams like Cray Wanderers and they’ve all got big money. Danny Haynes has signed (for Cray) and so has Paul Lorraine.

"You do keep an eye on all of that but it doesn’t make a team.

"The big thing about us is our team spirit, our dressing-room and how we go about our business. It’s strong, I’ve never seen it before.

"You’ve got to be a team in this league, you’ve got to be close. Ryman South has always been a hard league and there’s a way you have to play football in this league.

"Sometimes it’s not all about being pretty and playing one-touch. It’s great if you can do it but sometimes you’ve got to have a Plan B, mix it a little bit and you’ve got to have the players to do that."

Cook will be without his first-choice centre-halves at Godalming as Nick Reeves and Craig Cloke are both suspended.

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.