Hythe have missed out on two players but manager Clive Cook is still working on another deal to strengthen his squad.

Cook is in talks with a player at a higher-ranked club as he bids to make his final summer signings before the Cannons report back for pre-season training.

A busy close-season has already seen Cook bring five new players to the club and negotiations have continued throughout the past week.

He said: "I had three on the go but two are not coming. They’ve gone to a higher level.

"Those deals blew me out of the water, I couldn’t get near what they were being offered. They’re nice lads, I respect them and they did everything right.

"The one I’m really working on is a little way off but I’m there. I’m just waiting.

"When you go after players at higher levels, it’s trying to convince them it’s the way to go, to step down in order to go up.

"Money’s not an issue. It’s good what I’ve offered.

"It’s just about trying to convince the player that it’s a sideways move, going down to come up. That’s the stumbling block but I’m not too far away.

"I know the boy well and he knows me, it’s just about the level.

"I don’t want to say anything yet because if he stays where he is, it’ll put him under pressure.

"I’m hoping to have some sort of conclusion to it, one way or the other, in the next few days."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.