Manager Tim Dixon is facing a battle to keep his best players out of the clutches of Hythe Town’s big-spending local rivals.

Having already lost Craig Thompson and Michael Yianni to Ashford United, Dixon is also wary of approaches by his former club Ramsgate, where Jim and Danny Ward are back in charge.

He said: "The biggest problem at the moment is keeping players.

"The amount of finance that other teams have got is ridiculous. I can’t believe some of the amounts I’m hearing.

"We can’t afford to pay what some of these players should be paying in tax.

"I’m trying to keep players at the club but their heads are being turned. They’re excited about the amount of money they’re being offered but that money will definitely run out.

"It’s alright flashing your money about now but I know there are clubs who cut their money at certain times in the season.

"I’ve got to persuade players that we’re trying to get a good squad together ourselves.

"I’m not bothered about other teams but it’s difficult when they’re offering sums of money that I can’t compete with."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.