Martin Chandler completed his short spell as Hythe caretaker boss having benefited from the experience.

Chandler stepped up from his role as under-14s manager for the final three games of the season after Nick Davis left by mutual consent following Isthmian South East relegation.

All three matches ended in defeat but there were plenty of positives for Chandler, who will be running the club’s new under-23 team next season.

It gave him a taste of management in senior football and the opportunity to blood youngsters Lucas Dent, Ifaz Shah Abed, Leo Simmons, Jayden Nye and Cody Stanton, all of whom will continue their development in the under-23s.

Hythe, beaten 4-0 by Ramsgate and 5-3 at Ashford in Chandler’s first two games, ended the season with a 5-1 home defeat by Beckenham.

The Cannons finished second-bottom of the table, 21 points from safety, and will be playing in the Southern Counties East Premier Division next season.

“It’s certainly opened my eyes to managing in the Isthmian League, compared to what I’m used to,” said Chandler.

“I think that bit of experience will benefit me moving into the 23s.

“The young players involved in the three games will all be with the 23s and we’ll be looking to push a couple of them quite early to be involved with the first-team squad.

“It makes it easier for me because I’ve worked with them now even for three games and you can see the talent that’s there.

“There is so much talent down this part of the county, we just need to make sure we tap into it properly.

“The link between the first team and the 23s is really important to progress players and push them on.

“If they’re good enough they should play and that’s how the best coaches and managers work.

“Sometimes you might push three players through and two might be able to handle it straight away but you might have to bring one lad back for a couple of months just to get a bit more experience, which is fine because it’s all good for their development.

“It’s an interesting time for Hythe and quite exciting.”

The Cannons trailed Beckenham 3-0 at half-time and conceded two more goals before an injury-time consolation from Javaun Splatt.

“I was hoping to get a win out of one of the three games,” said Chandler.

“But, taking the results out of it, when I was asked to take over I said I want to blood some youth, I’ve kept to my word, I’ve given five or six players their first-team debuts and they haven’t disappointed.

“Take Lucas Dent. His first game was against Ramsgate and what a game to come into.

“He didn’t let it faze him, he got better against Ashford and I’d say he was probably man-of-the-match against Beckenham.

“It’s just having that confidence to say, ‘I believe in you, just believe in yourself, you’ve got the ability, there’s no pressure, just go and play’.

“They all did that, and that’s what pleased me the most.

“The performances were important and the feedback from the supporters was first-class.

“Everyone worked hard and showed a bit of heart, a bit of desire, and that’s all the supporters want.

“As long as you try to do the right things, the fans will be happy. Results will come in the end.”

Hythe held their first under-23 trials on Sunday, attended by 22 players, and three more sessions are planned in the next couple of weeks.

“We wanted to be one step ahead of people,” said Chandler.

“Where it’s a new set-up, there’s a lot of other teams who are already established, so it’s good for us to get out there early.”