Hythe have signed a new goalkeeper after releasing Aaron Lee-Wharton.

Cannons boss Steve Watt let Lee-Wharton go following their 3-0 FA Trophy exit at Merstham last week.

His replacement is former Phoenix keeper Steve Phillips, a player Watt first targeted over the summer.

A house move got in the way then but the Cannons have their man this time and he made his debut in Tuesday night's 3-2 Isthmian South East win at Sittingbourne.

“I released Aaron on the Tuesday without having a keeper in mind,” said Watt.

“We’ve got Dan Smith as No.2, so were covered.

“I rang Steve on Wednesday, just to double-check his situation, and he was ready to get involved again, so it was perfect timing.

“He’s moved down Brighton way, and had signed for someone down there, and he’d also registered for Phoenix, so I’m pleased to get him.

“Whenever we’ve played Phoenix in the past, he’s been man-of-the-match.

“He’s a very good goalkeeper and he’s got that experience we need.

“Aaron did well, he made saves he had no right to make, but he was a little inconsistent at times and cost us a few goals. I felt it needed changing.

“He took it well, he’s a nice guy and I enjoyed working with him.

“He made some unbelievable saves for us, it wasn’t an easy decision, and he can count himself unlucky.

“I felt perhaps the boys had lost a little bit of confidence in him and that can affect you as players.

“We’re near-enough 10 games in and you see these little things as a manager. What do you do? Wait another 10 games? No.

“If you think the change needs to be made, make it there and then. I wish Aaron all the best.”

The travel from Brighton won’t be a problem for Phillips.

The Cannons train at Wrotham, just off the M26, which is virtually a straight run, while on home matchdays he’ll be able to join the car school that operates from Maidstone.

Watt, who expects to complete another signing this week, said: “If we trained at Hythe, we wouldn’t get him but Wrotham’s only an hour away, and we only train once a week on a Thursday, so it’s not bad.

“For home games, he only needs to get himself to Maidstone and we’ve got the car school from there.”

Hythe have a blank Saturday for the third successive weekend, with their next game away to Ramsgate in the Velocity Trophy on Wednesday.