Hythe Town manager Ira Jackson explains why he won’t be making a playing return

Hythe Town manager Ira Jackson has ruled out a playing return as the Cannons look to find some form.

Jackson isn’t happy with what he’s seeing on the pitch after four successive defeats.

At 28, he could still be in his prime but he hung up his boots for a reason - and nothing has changed.

The former Football League forward explained that to his players after a 3-0 Kent Senior Trophy home defeat by Sutton Athletic on Saturday.

“There’s a reason why I’m not playing football and I said this to the boys after the game to give them context,” said ex-Grimsby man Jackson.

“I get asked all the time about playing but I’m a man of integrity and the reason I stopped playing is the reason I’m annoyed with my team.

“That’s because I realised I didn’t want it any more and I couldn’t give everything, so for me the best way to remedy that is to not play.

“I said to my team, if you don’t want to be here, if you don’t want to work hard, if you don’t want it, then this is an example of something you do.

“But do everybody a favour and be honest and say I don’t have it in me to give everything because then we’re not expecting you to give everything, we’re not relying on you to give everything when you don’t want to.

“When I was a player, it was the most respectful thing you could do to the fans that are paying every week, to the club that are paying you, to the manager that’s trusting you.

“The real consideration for me is I don’t have a spark to want to play again.

“I just have a frustration that I know I can do better than what I’m seeing on the pitch but that’s not enough for me to get my boots back on.”

All the goals came in the second half as Hythe were beaten by Sutton Athletic in the Kent Senior Trophy.

The Cannons were again their