Clive Cook is keen to get more of his key players signed up for next season after securing Alfie May on an 18-month contract.

The striker has committed himself to Hythe for the 2016-17 campaign and Cook’s mid-season business is unlikely to end there.

May, Frankie Sawyer and Jack Harris have scored a combined 30 goals since Cook brought them to Reachfields and keeping the trio together could be key.

Cook said: "We’re looking at putting two or three more on who are going to be assets to the club.

"The worst time for me is pre-season. I can’t stand it because everyone wants a bit of what you’ve got. What I try to do is tie players down.

"The hardest position to get is a striker because everyone wants a 20-goal striker and I happen to think I’ve got three of them.

"I’m not saying I’m tying them down but I want to tie that area down so I’m comfortable.

"Those three cause havoc. Centre-halves don’t know which one to go to.

"You’ve got one playing on the shoulder of the centre-halves and the other two dropping deep, coming wide, going in. They’re all over the place like jack-in-the-boxes."

Harris scored the only goal on Saturday as Hythe won 1-0 at Carshalton to move within four points of the Ryman League Division 1 South play-off places.

"He’s been excellent," said Cook of the former Maidstone and Faversham frontman. "I can’t fault him. He’s still a little bit off his fitness but he puts a shift in every game.

"He causes defenders all sorts of problems. It’s just the way he plays his football.

"He’s strong, a proper old-fashioned centre-forward but he’s got a bit about him as well. Give him half a chance and it’s in the net."

May is Hythe’s top scorer this season with 13 goals from 18 starts.

Cook said: "I’ve got him on an 18-month contract. He’s a smashing lad and he’s always going to score goals whatever level he goes to. He’s that confident in what he does and it’s fantastic for the club."

He added: "I do my planning early. I know this season’s far from over yet but you’ve got to have things in your mind of where you want to go and what you want to do.

"I know two, three, four players who I want to bring in but that makes a disappointment for two or three other players."