Player-assistant Danny Kedwell knows what he’ll tell Chatham boss Kevin Hake if he asks him to play on again next season this summer - do one!

Popular ex-Football League striker and Medway man Kedwell laced his boots back up to help them win the Isthmian South East title in their first campaign back at the level.

Kedwell, 40 in August, was unsure how things would work out upon his playing return, but he had a key role in their seven-match winning league streak in the end, which saw them crowned champions as they earned back-to-back promotions.

But he said: “If he asks me again, I’m saying no!

“To be fair, it was very difficult. Obviously, I hadn’t played for so long and I was worried about the way I looked.

“But it wasn’t about that. It was about passion. That’s why I did it.

“But if he asks me to do it again, I’ll probably tell him to ‘do one’ because I already thought that was me done. But I’d never actually put it public I’d retired.

“So Kev said ‘Well, you haven’t put it public so come out [of retirement] and help’ and I was willing to do that. I wasn’t comfortable but I did it - and it worked.

“It was a good choice.”

It was a sixth promotion for Hake’s No.2, who counts Gillingham, Ebbsfleet and AFC Wimbledon among his old clubs, but a first as part of a club’s management team after a stint as Cray Wanderers boss last season.

“I said to Kev on the side this is my sixth promotion but this probably was one of the more emotional ones,” he noted.

“I don’t know why that is.

“Obviously I’m usually playing all season but, now, I’ve been on the other side and this is my first promotion as part of a coaching staff. I think that got me emotionally.

“Obviously, I was Cray manager last year and I felt a little bit hard done-by, really, with what happened there after building the squad literally within a month. I got them high in the [league] standings and did well in the cup - and got the sack.

“But I came in here and Kev gave me the chance to use my experience with coaching and stuff like that.

“I’ve got to thank him, really. He’s been magnificent. He actually listens… He’s not a manager that goes ‘No, it’s my decision’ and that’s the sort of person I love.

“I have a lot of time for him as a manager and chairman.”

Kedwell also felt every player who has played for them amid their title-winning campaign deserves credit for their success.

He said: “It’s magnificent.

“Obviously, we came up a league with promotion from last year so, to go up another league and get another promotion in your first year, it’s a magnificent achievement.

“That comes from every single player that’s been in the building since day one to today, really. Everyone has played their part - it doesn’t matter if they played 10 minutes, 15 minutes or whatever.

“They’ve all done something to win a game for us, or get an equaliser, or something.

“It’s hard work when you’re going through the season. You aren’t going to keep every player happy but it just goes to show the squad depth we’ve got.

“That’s what has got us over the line.

“Credit to every single player.”

Kedwell will return to Priestfield with Chats on Wednesday for their Kent Senior Cup Final against Margate.