Hythe boss Tim Dixon believes he can keep striker Shaun Welford at Reachfields for next season.

Welford scored 38 goals for the Cannons in 2013/14 but left the club last summer following the resignation of manager Scott Porter.

Dixon admitted he couldn’t afford to compete for the signature of Welford, who joined Cray Wanderers in Ryman League Division 1 North.

But things changed in January when Welford came back to Hythe, where he scored 10 goals in 15 appearances at the back end of the season.

Dixon said: “I want Shaun to stay and believe he wants to stay.

“He likes it down at Hythe and knows it’s a friendly club. They’ve looked after him and he’s a big character to have around.

“We’ve had a couple of chats and he knows how important he is to us.

“He’s not contracted, so anyone can talk to him and he’s open to offers but he admitted that last season he shouldn’t have gone, he should have stayed here.

“Let’s hope he’s in the same frame of mind now because he’ll score goals for us next year.

“If he’d been with us from day one, he’d have been right up there with Ian Draycott and Chris Smith at the top of the scoring charts.”

Hythe's player-of-the-year Laurence Harvey has already signed up for another season at Reachfields. The 24-year-old defender played 52 games last season - more than any other Hythe player.

Dixon said: "I am delighted that Laurence has re-signed for next season.

"Laurence has become a hugely popular member of the squad and played a major role during the last campaign. He seems to be improving every season and the club are delighted that he will be at the heart of the defence again next year."

Harvey said: "I am really pleased to sign for Hythe Town again for next season.

"The season just gone was obviously frustrating in terms of league position, but we have a great group of players with a lot of quality, with a few good additions to the squad I believe that we can push for a play-off place next season.

"Hythe is a great club, with a great management team, great board and great supporters and I can't wait to get going again next season."