Hythe Town boss Steve Watt on the appointment of Alex Flisher as his new assistant manager

Former Hythe player Alex Flisher has returned to Reachfields as the club’s new assistant manager.

Flisher, 31, was in the dugout for the first time on Saturday as the Cannons won 3-1 at East Grinstead in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.

He retired from playing a year ago after suffering a knee injury during pre-season training with Hythe.

Cannons boss Steve Watt had been looking for a new assistant since Darren Blackburn left this summer.

“I’m delighted to bring Flish back,” said Watt, who also captained Flisher at Maidstone.

“It’s a good story in terms of he had to finish his playing career with us and I’m just happy that he’s decided to come back and start another career with us with his coaching.

“I didn’t think he’d do it, because he’s a busy man with work and family, but the timing was right.

“I like good people to be involved in football.

“He’ll feel his way into the role - it’s something he’s not done before.

“I’m very hands-on so it’s not the case that he’s come in with a list of jobs as long as his arm.

“He took the warm-up on Saturday and I’m sure as we go on he’ll get more confident in the role and find his way of doing things.

“He’s someone who was quiet on the pitch as a player and off the pitch he was quiet at times in the dressing room but when he had stuff to say, people would always listen.

“After the career he’s had, it’s great to have him working with the young players we’ve got.

“One thing you can always say with Flish is no matter what he does, he’ll give you 110%.”

All the goals came in the second half as Hythe eased past East Grinstead, with Johan Caney-Bryan scoring twice and Brad Schafer on target for the second successive game.

The Cannons had beaten the same opponents 4-0 in their Isthmian South