Hythe Town manager Ira Jackson signs Ollie Gray, 34, as the experienced head in a squad featuring nine teenagers

Ollie Gray has a key role to play after joining Hythe Town for a fourth time.

At 34, defender Gray is the senior figure in a young squad assembled by new manager Ira Jackson.

Winger Tunimise Akanni, 26, midfielder Toby Adegulugbe, 24, and striker Armani Martin, 23, are the next oldest.

A 17-man squad, published on Hythe’s website, includes nine teenagers, so Gray’s experience will be vital in helping the youngsters find their way.

Jackson said: “If you want experience, you want the right type of experience, and he is that.

“He’s got a good attitude, he always wants to learn, he works hard in training, so he’s not one of those who’s trying to miss training and turn up for games.

“It’s good to have him around the group and have him showing what it’s like to be in non-league.

“One of the biggest things will be making sure we keep him fit and manage him because as you get older, the niggling injuries can be more serious if they aren’t looked after properly.

“So we’re going to have to make sure we manage his minutes and his output in pre-season to make sure he’s ready for the season.”

Gray wore the captain’s armband as Hythe opened pre-season with a 3-0 friendly defeat by Folkestone at Reachfields on Saturday.

But Jackson, who was encouraged by the first-half performance in particular, is still to decide who will skipper the side when the Southern Counties East Premier Division season gets under way.

“Ollie’s got those qualities and those traits in terms of who the captain is,” said Jackson, whose side lost 4-0 at home to Deal on Tuesday night.

“Right now, it hasn’t officially been decided but I have more of a model of a captaincy team where we have three captains, but I expect the whole XI to be captains.

“We’ll work it like