Former Ipswich Town midfielder Andy Drury has returned to management after being appointed the new boss of Hythe Town.
The 42‑year‑old steps in at a difficult moment, with the club sitting rock bottom of the Southern Counties East Premier Division.
He replaces Darren Beale, who was dismissed after failing to win any of his nine matches in charge.
Hythe have endured a turbulent season, already on their third manager after Ira Jackson and Beale both struggled to steady the ship.
Drury arrives with the club, desperate for stability and a spark to lift them off the foot of the ninth tier with only 13 points this season.
Drury is no stranger to the non‑league scene.
After leaving Ipswich, he carved out a long career across clubs such as Stevenage, Luton Town, Crawley Town, and Ebbsfleet before moving into management with managing Whitstable Town who are in the same league and Margate as well.
His most recent role was at Folkestone Invicta, which he left in March 2025
Hythe Town’s situation is stark. They sit bottom of the division and have endured a miserable run of form, including heavy defeats and a lack of consistency.
The club dropped out of the Isthmian League South East Division last season, suffering its first relegation in history.
Drury inherits a squad low on confidence and short on results, but he has already shown a willingness to make bold changes.
Reports from Kent suggest he has overseen multiple departures and new arrivals as he tries to reshape the team’s mentality and identity
Despite the scale of the challenge, Drury appears ready for the fight.
Hythe are nine points from safety with time running out, but a new voice and a new approach may be exactly what the club needs.
For supporters, the hope is simple: that Drury can inject belief into a side that has been drifting for too long.
His appointment marks a fresh chapter for a club desperate to avoid back‑to‑back relegations.
Whether he can pull off a great escape remains to be seen, but Hythe finally have a manager with the experience, energy and edge to give them a fighting chance.
