Returning chairman John Dowsett has outlined his plans for Hythe Town after taking over from Trevor Kennett this week.

Mr Kennett, who arrived as chairman in May, had to step down because other commitments meant he was "unable to give the role the time and commitment it deserves and requires."

Hythe president Paul Markland asked Mr Dowsett to take on the job, which he did from April-December 2013 – and he accepted.

"The reason I stepped down before was because the job had splintered," Mr Dowsett explained. "It just got too much. It’s gone from a corner shop to a supermarket, in terms of things being done behind the scenes, getting more sponsorship etc.

"I agreed to come back as chief executive on the business side and Trevor was going to be chairman of the day-to-day running of the football side. When he stepped down, Paul Markland asked if I’d be prepared to be chairman again.

"I come from a business background and this has got to be run as a business. Our intention is for the club to pay for itself. We can’t rely on benefactors or donations. It’s got to be run on a professional basis, otherwise we’re not going to survive."

Scott Porter was Hythe manager when Mr Dowsett was chairman previously and there’s a different ethos now Tim Dixon’s in the dugout.

Mr Dowsett said: "Scott did wonders for the club by getting players who were in the autumn of their careers and paying a bit of money to get the club higher up the league.

"But that’s not the way forward. We’ve got to rely on bringing the kids through. Scott made it clear – all he cared about was the first-team, nothing else."

Full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.