Tom Wynter’s retirement proved short-lived - and Hythe manager Steve Watt smells a rat.

Wynter’s U-turn is welcome news for the Cannons, who lost 2-1 to Isthmian South East new boys Corinthian on Saturday.

Watt is delighted to have the 31-year-old defender back - even if the timing is dubious.

“I knew he’d eventually miss it,” said Watt.

“How long it would take I didn’t know but, conveniently, it’s taken until pre-season finished!

“We had a bit of a joke about it. I said to him if he didn’t want to do pre-season he only had to say.

“To be fair, his circumstances have changed a bit and he’s got more time than he thought to be able to play.

“I’m delighted to have him back. There were a couple of clubs sniffing around but he said if he was going to come back it would only be for one club.

“He came to the game Saturday and we got the forms signed.

“He’s the best defender in the league, and probably the league above, and when you put him alongside Scott Doe that will be one of the best partnerships in our league.

“In terms of experience and knowledge, it’s hard to find a better pair. They will be fundamental if we’re to have a successful season.”

The opening game was one to forget for keeper Will Godmon, who had a rare off day.

He palmed Jack Mahoney’s free-kick into the net as Corinthian led on 11 minutes.

And while Alex Brown’s cracking strike levelled matters on 63 minutes, Godmon was at at fault again as Luke Tanner was gifted an open goal for the visitors’ injury-time winner.

“Will usually saves us, he’s so reliable, but he’s held his hands up after Saturday,” said Watt.

“He’s at fault for both goals - someone of his quality would normally deal with them with his eyes closed.

“I’ve got to give Corinthian credit, they’re good at what they do, but we didn’t turn up in the first 45 minutes. For want of a better word, we were awful.

“We were much better in the second half, we’ve had not clear chances but they are chances I’d expect us to take to win a game.

“We haven’t taken them and we’ve been punished.”

Hythe host Westfield in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday and Watt is hoping a run in the competition could help his budget.

He said: “There’s no point having that conversation with the club yet because we’ve got to win the game first.

“But, if we do win, it would be nice to get a little bit more for the budget.

“The club’s always done that in the past so hopefully that might happen again.

“I’m not talking all of it but every little helps you strengthen.

“Westfield are an unknown quantity but, like I’ve said to the players, most results we will determine ourselves.

“If we turn up and do the basics right our quality will shine through and I fancy us against anyone at our level.”

Kane Philip is also back at Hythe after a brief spell with Sheppey.

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