Price not worried about Hastings threat

Hastings appointed Sean Ray as their new player/manager on Tuesday and he will be looking to strengthen his squad in their quest for league survival.

With so many talented players on their books, Rye would be an obvious target and Ray had a first hand look at the quality at The Salts when he played for the Quarterboys against Arundel a fortnight ago.

But Rye manager Price – a good friend of Ray’s - said: “He can come in for who he likes – no-one will go. Any local manager would come after our players, I would if I took over.

“But why would anyone want to leave here and go to Hastings? Not this time of year, end of the season’s a different story. We’re still in every cup apart from the Sussex Cup, I would be very surprised if anyone wanted to leave.”

Hastings are 15th in the Ryman Football League Premier Division, while Rye are second in Sussex County League Division One, which is two levels lower down the non-league pyramid.

A number of former Hastings players are now turning out for Rye, notably Sam Adams, Scott Ramsay and Wes Tate, although Jack Dixon did move in the opposite direction during the summer.