Watt departs the Cannons?

Hythe Town manager Steve Watt led his side to the Pitching In Isthmian South East Play Of Final just last month, but it now seems that the Cannons will have to start the 23/24 campaign under new leadership after their former leader confirmed his departure.

Earlier this morning Watt released a statement on social media. It explained:

'It is with great regret that I have made the decision to step down as manager of Hythe Town FC.

After such an amazing season I was hoping to be planning and building a squad for the upcoming season but without any answers and minimal contact from the board in the last two weeks, I still don't know what is happening with the budget or even if the new board members want to move forward with me as manager.'

He continued:

'It's not fair for the players to be hanging around and missing out because I can't give them the answers they need.'

The matter is complicated by an anonymous post on the Hythe Town FC Facebook Group, which was posted following Steve's resignation. It states:

'To put people's mind at rest, there was a communication breakdown where an offer we thought had been made to Steve but wasn't passed on before his resignation. This was not Steve's fault. We have since spoken to Steve and made the offer directly and we hope he will stay and build on his great season. We are sorry Steve was put in that position and we have made it clear we want him to stay. We hope he will but of course he is highly regarded in and out of Hythe so we will update in due course.'

Steve took over as manager in May last year- his second spell in charge, after departing the previous November. He was previously in charge at Margate, and had a spell in charge at Maidstone United.

Steve was an uncompromising defender during his playing career, starting life at Aberdeen and Chelsea as a youth before playing for Ross County, Grimsby Town, Maidstone United and Dover Athletic, amongst others.

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