Hythe boss Tim Dixon tried to bring Ronnie Dolan back to Reachfields this week before the midfielder joined their local rivals Folkestone.

Dolan departed Hythe almost a year ago, when he signed for Hastings United in search of automatic promotion. But he admitted at the time he was sad to leave and Dixon was hopeful of bringing back a player who spent three years with the Cannons.

It wasn’t to be, however, as Folkestone announced on Monday they’d added Dolan to their squad.

Dolan marked his Invicta debut by scoring with his first touch against Corinthian Casuals on Tuesday.

Dixon said: "He was someone I was talking to but I couldn’t get near the wage demands.

"He would have been welcome back and it wasn’t for the want of trying.

"I saw him as being a big part of our team. We played against Ronnie this year, down at Hastings, and he was terrific, as were Cooky (Dave Cook) and Taser (Hassan), former Hythe players.

"He’s highly thought of at this club and it was a great shame we didn’t get him.

"I don’t think Cugs (Folkestone manager Neil Cugley) needs players like that as much as I do but I don’t hold a grudge against Ronnie. He’s a smashing lad and sometimes football goes like that.

"Good luck to him at Folkestone. It’s cracking club, I get on well with Neil and they’re going for it this year."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.