Soccer Shorts: Tom Wynter joins Mickey Doyle's management team at newly-promoted Lydd Town

Here are this weekend's Soccer Shorts articles with summer transfer news.

ASHFORD UNITED newly-appointed manager Kevin Watson has retained goalkeeper Jacob Russell, right-back Bradley Simm, full-back Tariq Ossai andcentral midfielder Rhyle Ovenden after the club finished in ninth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table under former boss Tommy Warrilow.

DARTFORD manager Alan Dowson has signed former Concord Rangers striker Lewis Manor, 31, while goalkeeper Dan Wilks, 26, has departed the National League South club after two seasons.

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Matt Longhurst has bolstered his defence ahead of their Isthmian League South East Division campaign next term.

Centre-half Rob Strachan has been retained, signing a new one-year contract, while fellow centre-half Ben Fitchett arrives from Ramsgate.  Left-back Ross Craig arrives at Park View Road, having suffered relegation with VCD Athletic at the end of last season.

FAVERSHAM TOWN manager Sammy Moore has unveiled the signing of attacking midfielder Billy Bennett.

Bennett has won the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title with a number of clubs, including Chatham Town, Sheppey United and was brought in by Matt Longhurst to get Erith & Belvedere over the line towards the end of last season.

“After speaking to Billy with the chairman (Gary Smart), his ambition, passion and desire was phenomenal and with his experience, I know he will be able to express himself even more as a player in our squad next season,” said Moore.

“The management team are excited to work with Billy and I’m sure all fans will join us in welcoming Billy to the club.”

Striker Ashley Miller has left Ramsgate to return to play for the Lilywhites.

GILLINGHAM manager Neil Harris has announced that Bailey Akehurst, Stuart O'Keefe, Olly Lee, Ben Reeves, Scott Kashket, Lewis Page, Jordan Green, Will Dempsey, Julian Kuhr, Elliott Moore and Freddie Carter will be leaving the League Two club this summer.

HERNE BAY manager Steve Lovell has confirmed the departures of goalkeeper Jordan Perrin and left-back Jack Parter.  Parter has been snapped up by their Isthmian League South East Division rivals Ramsgate.

LYDD TOWN manager Mickey Doyle has announced the arrival of former Hythe Town man Tom Wynter as part of his management team as the club embark on their maiden Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign next season.

Doyle said: “Tom is a lad who needs no introduction to those who will be supporting Lydd next season. He has been there and done it with his experience, as we look to take little old Lydd Town into the big pond with some big fish. We would like to welcome Tom.”

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager George Elokobi has signed former Lewes attacker Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, 25.

MARGATE manager Reece Prestedge has signed Polish-born goalkeeper Damian Niemczycki, 20, from National League South side Braintree Town.

The Isthmian League Premier Division side have confirmed that Emmanuel Oke, Peter Ojemen and Daniel Jinadu have been allowed to explore other opportunities to seek football at a higher level in the footballing pyramid.

Defender Harry Hudson, has been retained, while former Dover Athletic central defender Tyrone Sterling, 35, has arrived at Hartsdown Park.

MILLWALL manager Gary Rowlett has released Scott Malone, Mason Bennett, Alfie Allen, Tyrese Briscoe, Jordan Gillmore, Arthur Penney, Ryan Sandford, Ernie Cheeseman, Laquay Coleman and Kallen Donaldson this summer.

PHOENIX SPORTS manager Steve O’Boyle has retained 17 players from last season’s promotion winning side as they embark on their Isthmian League South East Division return.

Andy Walker, Henry Douglas, Lee Bird, Tom Cousins, Finlay Burchatt, Mikey Dalton, Tom O’Connor, Stanley Young, Conor Johnson, Lewis Clark, Matthew Bourne, Isaac Long, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Ryan Sawyer, Kieran King, Ryan Hayes and Andy Pugh are staying put.

The club also confirmed that holding midfielder Dalton has signed a one-year contract, while Hayes is halfway through a two-year contract but winger Alfie Evans has left the club.

RAMSGATE newly-appointed manager Ben Smith has unveiled the signing of former Maidstone United goalkeeper Tom Hadler, 26.

Hadler has played for the likes of Gillingham, Eastbourne Borough, Ebbsfleet United and Maidstone United, where he won the National League South title before experiencing relegation from the National League at the end of last season.

It will be the first time that Hadler has played in the Isthmian League South East Division but Hadler is relishing his move to the Kent coast.

“I’ve known about the club for years,” said Hadler.  “I’ve been around Kent football for a long time.

“I think (the move) came out of the blue really, the opportunity to come here.

“I’ve known Ben Smith for a long time. He was a trainee teacher at the school, so I’ve known him ever since. 

“I had a good meeting with him and (chairman) James Lawson and sold me the vision of what’s going on here.”

Hadler said he is feeling excited to coach the younger players at his new club.

“I do a lot of coaching, my secondary business has been coaching and bringing on goalkeepers so for me to see the infrastructure that the club has built is amazing.

“If you’re around the next generation then they’re going to have something to aspire to, so I think it’s a big part of every club to have a good youth section and it will be exciting to get involved with that.”

SHEPPEY UNITED manager Jack Midson has confirmed goalkeeper Aiden Prall will be staying at Holm Park next season after signing a contract with the Isthmian League South East Division club.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS manager Jay Saunders has retained centre-half Joe Tyrie, 19, who has previously gone out on loan to Crowborough Athletic, Faversham Town and Sittingbourne and has made nine first-team appearances for his home-town club, having progressed via Tom Parkinson’s Academy side at Longmead Stadium.

WELLING UNITED manager Warren Feeney has signed former Dulwich Hamlet full-back Will Wood, 26.