Hythe Town defender Tom Wynter has retired from football, aged 31.

Wynter, who started his career at Gillingham and also played for Dartford, Dover and Margate, featured on the Cannons’ retained list.

But, after appearing in their opening friendly against K Sports last month, the centre-half told manager Steve Watt he was packing up.

Watt, who expects to sign an experienced replacement next week, said: “It’s something we discussed in the off-season when I was ringing everyone about coming back.

“He said he was thinking about stopping then but I convinced him to come back.

“He played in the first game and after that we had a conversation and he said, ‘I can’t do this any more’.

“I think he felt it was best to tell me early on in pre-season and give me time to get someone else in, rather than dragging it out to the end of pre-season and then telling me.

“I expect nothing less from him - that’s the type of character he is. He’s a great guy.

“I’ve known him a long time. I played with him at Dover when I first came into non-league football and I’ve managed him twice, at Margate and Hythe.

“He’ll be a massive loss. He was a huge player for us who brought so much quality but he was also a joy to have around the dressing room.

“He’s only in his early 30s, so it’s not that he’s not capable of playing any more, I just think it’s other circumstances.

“Before the pandemic, non-league players had their work and their football and thought they couldn’t live without football.

“But I think Covid has changed a lot of people’s perspective and they now realise they can live without it, they don’t need the bit of money they get to top up their day job, or they can earn a lot more not doing it.

“That’s the reality for some people and I’m guessing that might be the case for Tom.”

Hythe drew 0-0 at home to Kennington on Saturday and beat Canterbury 1-0 in their latest friendly on Tuesday, with Morgan Williamson scoring his first senior goal.

Watt said: “It’s all about players getting the right minutes under their belt at the moment.

“Pre-season this year is a lot stranger than others.

“Firstly, because of what everyone’s been through, people are taking the opportunity to get away on holiday if they can, and you’re always missing a few players during this time.

“And, secondly, where people haven’t played for such a long period of time, that makes it different.

"The important thing is to get everyone through it with no serious injuries, with enough minutes under their belt, so they are ready for August 14.

“I was never one as a player to read too much into pre-season.

“It’s more looking at shapes and combinations to see if they work.”

Hythe visit neighbours Folkestone on Saturday and host Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday.

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