Hythe Town sack Darren Beale after failing to win any of his nine games in charge and struggling club must get next appointment right or suffer embarrassing back-to-back relegations

CRISIS CLUB Hythe Town have sacked manager Darren Beale following the side’s humiliating 7-2 defeat away to Snodland Town this afternoon.

Chairman Vishal Nanda – who took the helm at Reachfields Stadium in April taking over from Matthew Smith and Gary Johnson - has overseen the worst season in the club’s entire history.

Ira Jackson was given his first ever managerial job and his reign at Reachfields Stadium lasted only 21 games before the retired 28-year-old striker was sacked following the club’s FA Vase Second Round exit at home to Burnham in November.

The club suffered its first ever relegation, dropping out of the Isthmian League South East Division at the end of last season, and Jackson’s appointment didn’t appear to be the right man to get the club heading back in the right direction, as it proved, losing 13 of his 21 games in charge.

The club then appointed Hythe-based Beale – who has failed to win any of his nine games in charge of the struggling club.

Hythe Town – who reached the last 32 of The FA Trophy under then manager Steven Watt, losing 2-1 at home to Chorley, in January 2024, are in serious danger of suffering back-to-back relegations.

The miss-firing Cannons are rooted to the bottom of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having picked up 13 points (three wins, four draws and 16 defeats) and are eight points adrift of safety with only 13 games remaining.

The club are facing up to the grim prospect of playing in the tenth-tier of English football next season – especially if Nanda fails to appoint the right man who can get them out of his embarrassing situation.

Nanda has to get on the phone to the only man who can save the club from oblivion, a Scottish man who made Reachfields Stadium such a hard place to go to and was in charge against Chorley two years ago. The club has fallen apart since Watt's second departure.

Hythe Town should be a side that are challenging for promotion back into the Isthmian League – not fighting it out with Stansfeld to avoid the wooden spoon!

“Hythe Town FC can confirm that the club has parted company with first-team manager Darren Beale and his management team with immediate effect,” said a club statement.

“This decision has not been taken lightly.

“Over a sustained period, League performances and results have not met the standards or expectations of the football club.

“Throughout this time, the board has continued to fully support the manager – both operationally and financially – allowing him to bring in the players he believed were needed to turn results around.

“Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the required improvement has not materialised.

“As a football club, our responsibility is to act in the best interests of Hythe Town FC.  That means protecting the club’s stability, safeguarding its future and ensuring continued progression both on and off the pitch.

“Football is a results-driven environment.  When performances fall short, accountability ultimately sits with the manager, before responsibility moves upward through the club structure.

“The chairman and board have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support the current management and, when it became clear that change was necessary, to identify a suitable replacement during what is always a difficult time – mid-season – when managerial options are limited.

“As part of Hythe Town FC’s long-term vision, the club remains committed to becoming self-sustainable.  It is therefore essential that any future appointment not only delivers on the pitch but also aligns with the wider values, structure and direction of the club.

“We would like to thank Darren and his team for their efforts and wish them well for the future.

“Further updates regarding the management position will be communicated in due course.

“We appreciate the continued support, patience and backing of our supporters during this period.”

Hythe Town and Stansfeld (with a game in hand) are on 13 points, while Chislehurst Glebe dropped into the bottom three (21 points from 25 games) following their surprise 5-1 home defeat to Faversham Strike Force (22 points from 22 games).

Hythe Town – on a run of 10 games without any win -  travel to fourth-placed side Bearsted on Tuesday night in the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals before they head to Gillingham to play Hollands & Blair (fourteenth-place, 28 points from 23 games) in the League next Saturday.

Ira Jackson’s disastrous spell in charge of Hythe Town:

League – Away – Corinthian – W3-0
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round  - Home – Littlehampton Town – L2-5
League – Away – Rusthall – D3-3
League – Home – Snodland Town – W4-0
League – Away – Erith & Belvedere – L1-3
League – Home – Kennington – L0-2
League – Away  - Faversham Strike Force – L0-1
League – Home – Fisher – L0-2
League – Home – Larkfield & New Hythe – L1-3
League – Away – Chislehurst Glebe – W2-1
FA Vase Second Qualifying Round – Home – Athletic Newham – W4-3
League – Home – Bearsted – L2-3
League – Away – Phoenix Sports – L1-4
League – Home – Whitstable Town – L1-2
Kent Senior Trophy – Home – Sutton Athletic – L0-3
FA Vase First Round – Home – Peacehaven & Telscombe – W1-0
League – Away – Bearsted – L0-1
League – Away – Tunbridge Wells – L0-3
Challenge Cup – Away – Staplehurst Monarchs – W4-0
League – Away – Holmesdale – L2-4
FA Vase Second Round – Home – Burnham – D1-1 (Lost 3-4 on penalties)

Darren Beale’s winless spell in charge of Hythe Town:

League – Away – Sutton Athletic – D2-2
League – Home – Rusthall – L2-3
League – Home – Phoenix Sports – L0-4
League – Home – Stansfeld – D0-0
League – Home – Hollands & Blair – L0-1
League – Home – Punjab United – D3-3
League – Home – Chislehurst Glebe – L0-2
Challenge Cup – Home – Snodland Town – D0-0 (Won 9-8 on penalties)
League -  Away – Snodland Town – L2-7

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk