Steve Watt has told Hythe players they’ll need to raise the bar again this season.

The unfancied Cannons had a campaign to remember in 2022/23, reaching the Isthmian South East play-off final.

But that’s all in the past as far as boss Watt is concerned - a point he made when the squad reported for pre-season training.

“Last year means nothing - that’s the message,” said Watt.

“We just have to prove ourselves again, basically.

“Last year, we got to where we wanted - the play-offs - and we fell short at the last hurdle.

“This year, it’s a clean start. I think the league will be tougher because of the investment that’s been made by clubs coming into it, so if you think what we did last year is going to be enough, it won’t be.

“The message is pretty clear to the boys. It’s a season of proving last year wasn’t a one-off and you have to get out there and show that.

“Whatever happened last year, it doesn’t matter.

“You only have to look at the season before - Haywards Heath got to the play-offs and then got relegated last season.

“I think the players knew that’s what they’d hear from me.

“Last year was good - of course it was - but I want to go one step further and get promoted as the manager of this team and the players have got to buy into that.

“We have to think bigger and play bigger and better to achieve what we want to achieve.

“A lot of clubs didn’t give us credit last year and I do think a lot took us lightly.

“But I don’t think they will this year, so we’re not going to be that surprise factor.

“It’ll be tough, the players know it’s going to be tough, but the way they’ve come back, the sessions so far have been fantastic.

“We’re in a much better position now than this time last year, in my opinion.”

Hythe had several players missing for Tuesday night’s opening friendly against Faversham, which ended goalless.

They host Lordswood on Saturday (3pm) and visit Rochester on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Watt said: “Pre-season’s not about results. We could lose every game and it wouldn’t bother me.

“It’s about getting people to buy into the system and the way we want to play, learning shape and positions in the team, and getting the messages across that we need to get through.”