Steve Watt says he’s been left with no choice but to resign as manager of Hythe Town.

He believes the club’s new board members have effectively forced him out after two weeks of “radio silence” since initial discussions over next season.

Watt asked for a small budget increase to help the Cannons build on their run to the Isthmian South East play-off final, along with a 12-month deal.

He stressed these were requests and not demands.

However, bar a cryptic text message, he’s been left in limbo, leading him to the conclusion that he’s not their man.

Watt continues to enjoy an excellent relationship with the existing board but with the balance of power seemingly shifting to the new members, he leaves Reachfields three weeks on from the play-off final.

He said: “I asked for two things: the budget to be increased slightly to give us a better chance next season and a 12-month deal because I’d already turned that down elsewhere.

“It’s important to stress these weren’t deal-breakers and they certainly weren’t demands.

“The club’s always been the most important thing. If those two things aren’t possible, no problem, just let me know, but I’ve heard nothing in two weeks.

“The only thing I’ve had in that time was a text message last Friday from one of the new board members, saying they were no longer involved in the appointment of the first-team manager, which I found strange because I didn’t realise the job was available. I thought I was the manager.

“That’s when alarm bells started to ring. Clearly there’s something going on.

“Since then, no one’s got back to me with any budget or anything about next season.

“I’ve been in contact with the old board to try and find out what’s happening, so we can resolve things and move forward.

“They’ve been brilliant - they’ve done everything they can - but I feel it’s got to the stage where it feels the new board members are trying to make me walk.

“I’ve been around football long enough to know how it works. I’m left with no choice but to walk away.

“I don’t want to be somewhere I’m not wanted.

“These last couple of weeks have made it clear to me where the new board members stand.

“Yesterday was my final attempt to try and get some answers.

“It was said to them if I didn’t hear from anyone I’d be left with no choice and I’ve not heard a thing since.

“It affects players, who are sitting around waiting, and it affects me personally because jobs that have been available in the past two or three weeks aren’t there now.

“The boys are gutted. If it had been a no to my requests, not a problem, we can work around that, but no response says it all.

“Even if someone’s busy, just send some sort of message, but the radio silence from the people now in charge is unacceptable really. It’s clear they don’t want me here.

“The board needed new members to come in, because they needed help, and their plans are good.

“I’m always fair, and it is what the club need, but it’s disappointing the way the new members have gone about things.”

It was a season to remember for Hythe after Watt returned to Reachfields last summer.

On a modest budget, he led the club to the play-offs with 14 wins in their last 19 league games.

They lost just once at home all season and finished with the best defence in the league, conceding only 34 goals in 38 games.

They beat Ramsgate on penalties in the play-off semi-finals before being edged 1-0 by Whitehawk in the final.

“This was my fourth season, albeit my first full season,” said Watt.

“We’ve been through a lot with the Covid years and everything else.

“I’ll forever be grateful to Martin (Giles), Paul (Markland), Andy (Short) and Toby (Zapp) for giving me the opportunity to manage the club.

“It’s sad that it’s come to this and I’m sorry for the fans who’ve been with us through thick and thin.

“We finally had the foundations and things in place to be successful, not just one for season, but continued success.

“You look how close the boys were and they’re great ages.

“I can’t find the words to describe how I feel that’s it’s all been torn up.”