We'll do well even though we haven't got a budget, insists Fisk - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Hythe Town manager Paul Fisk is facing new challenges at Reachfields Stadium this season - working without a budget, writes Stephen McCartney.

But he is relishing giving youngsters the chance to shine in Kent League football.

He will, however, have experienced Southern League campaigner Andy Morris on board as first team coach. Morris, a former Ashford Town and Folkestone Invicta player, ended last season coaching the second string at the Homelands.

Fisk has also brought in a fitness coach, Jason Harding, a PTI instructor for the prison service.

Dave Johncock, meanwhile, secured a league and cup double in the Ashford League for Saga FC last term and takes charge of the reserves.

But Hythe won’t be full of golden oldies in their first team this season. Experienced campaigners Roy Godden and Ian Hayes will be surrounded by young, hungry players.

Hythe returned to pre-season training last Saturday morning and around 30 players turned up.

“It went really well,” Fisk said in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening.

“Andy and Jason are both what we are looking for. Both have finished their UEFA B coaching licenses and Andy, an experienced player, is what we are looking for.

“He’s someone who understands the game and gets on with the players, passing on his experience.”

Managers are never sure whose going to turn up at an early pre-season training session, and how talented they are, but Fisk was pleased with the turn out.

He said: “We had a good turn out of younger players.

“We are a good run club, but the financial side of things is very difficult but we’re looking at younger, fresher players who are looking to make their mark in the Kent League and step up.”

Fisk, meanwhile, understands its more important to blood youngsters and give them a chance to shine, rather than spend money that the club hasn’t got.

But the club are searching for sponsors to make things easier for Fisk.

“We are looking for sponsors but I’m not looking at it as a bad thing,” he said.

“The players we’ve got look good and we know where we stand.

“Other teams may have a budget but we don’t have one but we are looking to do well.

“It’s not an excuse but I think we’ll do quite well and I’m looking to keep hold of what we had but add some younger, fresher players to it.”

Money doesn’t always bring you success and Fisk admitted he isn’t facing problems when trying to entice players to Reachfields Stadium.

“To be fair to a lot of players, who I feel are good, they’re showing a willingness and want to do well and I haven’t really found it difficult yet,” he said.

“Not everyone can get a game at every club. But the training will be good and we’re running it as professionally as possible. The set up at Hythe Town is good.

“But we are positive and the club’s positive and the chairman is working hard to get everything we can. Everyone is looking forward to the season.”

Hythe Town’s pre-season programme:

Saturday 15^th July (H) Maidstone United
Saturday 22^nd July (H) Folkestone Invicta
Saturday 29^th July (a) Lydd Town
Tuesday 1^st August (a) Ashford Town
Saturday 5^th August (H) Sidley United (2:30pm first team, 4:30pm reserves)

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

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