We need a fresh approach before we are too far into the season, says Hythe Town chairman Paul Markland, who parts company with Tim Dixon after 16 months in charge

HYTHE TOWN have parted company with manager Tim Dixon after sixteen months in charge of the club.

The Cannons made the announcement on Sunday afternoon, 24 hours after they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Walton Casuals, which leaves the club sitting in the bottom three of the Ryman League Division One South table with four draws and six defeats from their opening ten league games.

The two clubs below them in the table, Whitstable Town and Chipstead have also changed managers at this early stage into the season.

A club statement, issued on their club website www.hythetownfc.co.uk, said: “The club’s directors met on Sunday morning after the team suffered a 2-1 away defeat at Walton Casuals the day before and decided to relieve the manager plus assistant manager Darren Beale and coach Kevin Beale of their posts.”

Hythe Town chairman Paul Markland added: “Firstly I must thank Tim for his work over the 16 months.

“Last season he had to re-build a squad and this season we expected him to push on into the top half of the table, in fact he set himself a target of the Ryman South play-offs.

“Tim is a smashing person who is well respected in local football so we gave him some time to turn things around.

“However, events and results haven’t gone Tim’s way so the board has decided we need a fresh approach before we are too far into the season.

“I wish Tim, Darren and Kevin all the best.  It’s just a shame it has not worked out for them at Hythe Town FC, but unfortunately for them this is a results driven business.” 

Hythe Town face fellow strugglers Whitstable Town at Reachfields Stadium on Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper coach Mark Lane has agreed to manage Hythe until a new manager is appointed – a role he also filled for Whitstable a few seasons ago – although he has told the club that he does not want the job permanently.

Hythe Town are close to announcing its new management team and hope Lane will be part of this.

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Hythe Town  v  Whitstable Town
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 22^nd September 2015
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS