Sammy Moore was drawn to the project at Hythe when it came to returning to management.

Moore succeeded Steve Watt at Reachfields in April - his first job since leaving Faversham in January.

The former AFC Wimbledon midfielder received other offers while out of the dugout.

But there was something about the Cannons that appealed, even before the excitement generated at the club by Matt Smith’s arrival as chairman.

Lex Allan and Harry Rowland have followed Jack Steventon and Oscar Webb in staying on but most of the squad Moore inherited have moved on.

“We had offers a little bit further up the line which would have been more travelling but we decided to stay nice and local and wait for the next project,” he said.

“The best work we’ve done has been at clubs like Concord, Potters Bar and Leatherhead, where we’ve had to build a team and try and be competitive and that’s what we’ve got to do here.

“What Hythe have done over the last two years has been fantastic (reaching the Isthmian South East play-off final and the last 32 of the FA Trophy).

“We’re trying to lay more foundations to kick on and improve us as a club, not just the first team but the youth as well, to bring them closer together as one club.”

Moore was appointed by former chairman Gary Johnson in the closing weeks of the season after Watt brought forward plans to step down.

The 36-year-old had no idea change was on the way, with ex-Sheppey chairman Smith succeeding Johnson, who’s moved into a new role as chief executive.

Reachfields is undergoing a transformation, including much-needed work on the troublesome pitch.

“With Matt coming in as chairman, it’s exciting times for the club,” said Moore.

“I didn’t know he was coming in - it came out of the blue.

“It all happened so quickly.

“I’d seen him at a couple of games but I thought he’d just come down to watch a game, like he’d probably been doing for six months after leaving Sheppey.

“With him on board and seeing what he built at Sheppey, he’s the perfect guy to come in.

“I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.

“There’s lots of work going on at the ground, with the pitch, the bar’s being made to look more like a sports bar and the dugouts are moving over the other side of the pitch.

“When people come back, it’s not going to be the old tired-looking Hythe, it’ll be the revamped Hythe where Matt’s come in and brought the buzz back.

“We’ve got more volunteers on board and it’s about building the club.

“We’ve had various meetings with Matt and Gary about the players and how we want to do things.

“We want to be competitive in every game and first and foremost we need to assemble a squad we feel can do that.

“Speak to most managers and they’ll tell you the market is a bit crazy at the moment.

“We’re not in that bracket, we’ve got to be patient and find the right players.

“If we need some youth involved next year, that’s what we’ll do.

“The main thing is when people sign for Hythe, they want to be here and be part of not just next season but the one after as well.”