We can't afford the big names, says Hythe boss Fisk

HYTHE TOWN manager Paul Fisk admits his pre-season preparations haven’t gone as well as he’d like, writes Stephen McCartney.

Hythe Town welcome Sevenoaks Town to Reachfields Stadium on Saturday as they open their Bulmers Cider Kent League campaign.

Fisk guided the club to a top-four finish last term, as well as reaching the Kent League Cup Final, which they lost to Erith Town.

“I think we’re probably a little bit behind then I would like us to be really,” Fisk told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’ve had players away on holiday’s and different reasons. We’ve had a couple of games (like) Chatham, and we had half a team, we went to Westfield and there were not very good facilities and pitch so it was a matter of getting through it.

“I’ve not had everyone there and had not so many good games as I would have liked really.”

But Fisk knows pre-season’s results count for nothing and they’re expected to beat a Sevenoaks side that travel to Reachfields in a state of “trepidation," according to their manager, Simon Jones last night.

But Fisk warned: “I know that we beat Westfield 2-0 and Sevenoaks beat them 4-0, so I think we’ll be expecting a pretty hard and difficult game on Saturday.”

Hythe have lost left-back James Gregory, whose gone to Ryman Premier League side Margate and another left-sided player, Ian Ross, has also left the club, destination unknown.

Coming in is Ashford Town’s central midfielder Joe Hitchins, 18, who spent a loan spell in the Kent League last season with Tunbridge Wells and right-sided midfielder Ben Sly and central midfielder Dave Cook arrive from neighbouring Ryman League Division One South side Folkestone Invicta.

“We’ve signed Joe Hitchins, from Ashford, he was on loan at Tunbridge Wells, he’s looked good in pre-season,” said Fisk.

“Ben Sly, he’s probably right-midfield and obviously Dave Cook has come back. He went to Folkestone and then decided to come back, so not really a new signing, but we were pleased he’s decided to come back.”

And after a successful campaign last term, which included knocking Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover Athletic out of the FA Cup, Fisk is looking forward to the new campaign.

“Our aspirations would be to try and do well as last year and if we can do that, move on from there,” said Fisk.

“I think it’s going to be really difficult as lots of clubs seem to have improved this season.

“We’ve signed a couple of young lads because we cant afford to get people down from the Ryman League. You’ve got your Herne Bay’s, Faversham’s and VCD, who have managed to get players in.

“But we can’t do that, so we have to go on the younger players and try and keep the players’ we’ve got.

“Reading about everyone else, the expectations are eight or nine clubs are expecting to do fairly well - so we’ll give it our best.”

Lee Winfield is the only injury doubt for the opening game as he’s nursing a back injury.

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

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website:  www.sevenoakstownfc.org

Hythe Town v Sevenoaks Town
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 9^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent