Manager Steve Watt has been careful to bring the right characters to Hythe.

Watt has wasted no time getting a new squad together since returning to Reachfields at the end of last month.

But all nine summer signings announced so far are players he knows will fit into the environment he’s trying to create.

The latest arrivals are Frannie Collin, who has rejoined from Ashford, Sittingbourne’s 14-goal top scorer Johan Caney-Bryan and young midfielder Ethan Smith, who came through Gillingham’s youth set-up.

Smith, who’s had a loan spell with the Brickies, is the brother of new Cannons captain Liam.

Watt, who has also added former assistant manager Nathan Elder to his coaching staff, said: “It’s been a good couple of weeks for the club with the signings we’ve made.

“Any player I sign, character is just as important as ability.

“It’s my first question when I speak to someone about a player - what’s he like?

“I wouldn’t be asking about them if I didn’t like what they did on the pitch, but if I don’t know them, I’ll make calls to find out what their character’s like.

“These are things you’ve got to consider. It’s so important to have a dressing room that’s together.

“One wrong element could ruin it, not two or three, just one. You get the wrong type in there and you’re in trouble.

“That’s why I’m always careful when I’m building teams. It’s a complete rebuild again. I did it at Margate, I did it at Hythe last time and I’m doing it again.

“I’d like to think I got it right the times before.

“I know quite a few of the boys who’ve come in, some I haven’t worked with before, and then when you’ve got your squad it’s about getting the right system, the tight combinations and the right style to complement each other.”

One signing Watt hasn’t worked with is 6ft 7in centre-half Lex Allan, who’s joined from Sittingbourne.

Allan had trials with Millwall, Norwich and Crystal Palace after breaking into the Brickies first-team aged 17, and Watt wants to find out why he hasn’t kicked on.

As a former defender himself, the Cannons boss could be just the man to get the best out of Allan.

“He did really well at a young age and he did well last year but something’s not been right,” said Watt.

“That might be the way he’s been coached in his position, no disrespect, or maybe the penny’s not dropped.

“You can’t have that much interest as a kid and nothing comes out of it but, not only that, he’s not even gone higher in non-league.

“When we spoke I said, me having been a centre-half, I could help him with his game and it became a no-brainer for both parties for him to sign.

“Just because he’s big, doesn’t mean he’s that type of centre-half. I need to figure out what he is. I’ve seen aggressive, small centre-halves who are good in the air.

“First and foremost, he has to play with a player that complements him.

“If you get the right partner, in a two, or the right partnership, in a three, it can take your game to the next level.

“That’s something to figure out in pre-season and another thing is we don’t want to be asking him to do things he’s maybe not comfortable with. That may be something that’s happened before.”

Watt, meanwhile, believes Smith is the ideal choice to captain the side in the absence of long-term injury victim Charlie Webster.

The former Tonbridge youngster was awarded the armband after agreeing new terms.

“Liam’s a reliable character, he’s been here a while and knows the club,” said Watt.

“He’s only 22/23 but for a young kid he’s got a lot of experience and now’s the right time to give him the armband and let him have that responsibility.

“It’s something he appreciates and cherishes and he’ll give his all for it.”