Hythe Town sign Ollie Gray from Whitstable as Scott Doe leaves for Barnstaple

Hythe have moved quickly to replace defender Scott Doe, who has left Reachfields for the second time this season.

They’ve signed ex-Margate and Ramsgate centre-half Ollie Gray from Whitstable after Doe accepted an offer from Barnstaple.

Doe, whose former clubs include Aldershot and Dover, originally joined the Cannons under former boss Steve Watt last summer.

He departed shortly before Watt’s resignation but returned under new boss James Rogers.

He’s on the move again but the Cannons have a decent replacement in Gray.

“Scott came back when we needed some experience,” said player-boss Rogers.

“He’s been made an offer he couldn’t refuse by Barnstaple, and I’m gutted to lose him, but he’s got a family to support.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him, he’s had a great career and he’s still a great player.

“He’ll be missed but I understand his reasons and I’m happy to be able to get Ollie in.

“We put a seven-dayer in for him and if he stays injury-free, he’ll be a really good signing for us.”

Rogers expects Frannie Collin and Jarred Trespaderne to get a good reception when they return to Reachfields with Ashford.

The pair signed for the Nuts & Bolts in January, Collin having taken a break over Christmas after leaving Hythe, while Trespaderne joined him at Homelands a week later.

They’ll be back at their old club on Saturday when the Cannons meet Ashford in a Kent derby that carries significance at both ends of Isthmian South East.

Hythe, beaten 3-0 at Burgess Hill last weekend, aren’t yet clear of relegation concerns, while the visitors are battling for promotion.

“It adds a bit of spice when you’ve got two lads that have left you coming back,” said Rogers.

“Fran and Jazz are both good players, they were well-liked by me, the