James Rogers’ first task as Hythe manager is to sign some players following further departures.

Frannie Collin and Alex Flisher have followed Darren Oldaker and Nathan Gordon out of the club and interim boss Rogers says there is potentially one more exit to come this week.

On top of that, Tom Walmsley, who played so well up front in the Cannons’ 1-0 win at Lancing on Saturday, could be facing a lengthy spell out with a knee injury.

It’s a baptism of fire for Rogers, who is working with a reduced budget, but one he’s tackling head on after succeeding Steve Watt.

He wasn’t due to take charge until last night’s (Tuesday) Kent Senior Cup tie against Faversham but took the reins ahead of schedule from caretaker duo Nathan Elder and Collin.

Rogers is being assisted by Cannons defender Tom Wynter, while Will Graham has left his role as Ramsgate under-18s manager to join the coaching staff at Reachfields.

“We had a conversation and it made more sense to take over straight away so I could get things organised,” said Rogers, whose side host Isthmian South East basement boys Phoenix this Saturday.

“With the boys leaving and the squad being so small, we need to get some players in.

“I’ve been on the phone non-stop since taking over.

“We’ve got to replace them but I’m not panicking, I’ve good contacts and so has Wynts, if we need kids to fill the bench.

“We have to try and pick a few up and get them to do a job for us.”

Rogers accepted the job following talks with secretary Martin Giles last week and won his first game in charge thanks to Jordan Sarfo’s late goal at Lancing.

And while it’s his first role in management, he’s been around long enough to know what makes an effective boss.

He said: “I’ve jumped right in there, with no experience, and Wynts is the same, but at this level a lot of it is man-management and getting players playing for you.

“I’ve had some good managers in my career and Watty’s been brilliant, I’ve spoken to him three or four times since I agreed to take over and he’s been a massive help.

“The club have given me a target to stay up, which is great for me, but I don’t want to settle for staying up, regardless of the budget.

"After winning at Lancing we’re 10 points clear of relegation and seven points off the play-offs.

“I’m not saying we’re going to get in the play-offs, it’s tough to compete with the teams up there with the budgets they have, but I’d expect us to give them good games.”

Rogers, 36, will only play if required and that’s likely to be on the left of his preferred back three, rather than the midfield role where he’s spent the majority of his career.

“If the boys in midfield play like they did on Saturday, they won’t need me anyway,” he said.

“With the players we’ve got and looking at our strengths, I think we’re best-suited to three at the back, and I’ve also gone like that because I want two up front in the hope we can retain the ball better in forward areas and put teams under pressure.

“If we had the players for it I’d look at a back four but I feel safer with three at the back and wing-backs.

“I do like my wing-backs high so I’m expecting the left and right centre-halves to put pressure on wingers if needed.”