Hythe boss Clive Cook is on the verge of making his sixth summer signing.

The Cannons have 18 players on their books after Cook retained 13 members of last season’s squad and added five new faces last week.

Sam Adams, Kenny Pogue, Dan Parkinson, Charlie Webster and Chris Saunders have all joined the club and Cook’s business isn’t done yet.

He said: "I’m just waiting on one big signing but I can’t say anything yet because it’s not over the line. It’s taken longer than I thought it would and then I’m finished.

"I’ve got 13 definitely signed up plus the five which I’ve brought in.

"We were a little bit light towards the end of last season and we needed to bring in some experience.

"There were three I really wanted to do. I’ve done two and I’ve got one to come in, which would make the summer really good.

"There’s two players and we’ve been negotiating but I’ll only take one – unless the chairman says I can have two!"

One player who won’t be turning out for Hythe next season is youngster Will Thomas, who spent part of last season at Reachfields on loan from Maidstone.

Cook said: "Will’s an academy player and wants to play all the time. He’s going back to do
pre-season with Maidstone and then he will probably go out on loan to a Southern Counties East side.

"He’s only 18 and wants to play football all the time. He’s a smashing lad but I can’t offer him guaranteed football. I’m a bit gutted he’s gone."

Cook added: "It’s been non-stop with players phoning, trying to do deals. We must have done something right last year because some of them are from quite high up the ladder.

"If something comes along which ticks the boxes, I’ll go to the chairman but other than that, we’re in a good place at the moment.

"I’m pleased with what we’ve brought in and I’m quietly excited to see where we go.

"Lots of things can happen, you can do whatever you do and then it all goes wrong when you start. We’ll take it bit by bit, get pre-season started and see where we are."

Hythe’s players report back for training on Thursday, June 30.

Their first pre-season friendly is away to Bearsted on July 9.