Frannie Collin intends to play on next season after Hythe’s promotion near-miss.

Collin, 35, experienced Isthmian South East play-off final defeat for the second year running when the Cannons lost 1-0 to Whitehawk on Friday.

Last season, he was part of the Ashford side who missed out to Herne Bay.

The former Maidstone and Tonbridge striker has thrived in a deeper midfield role at Reachfields, playing a key part in the Cannons’ run to the play-offs.

He scored nine goals, including a long-range stunner in the win at Sevenoaks, and equalised from the penalty spot as Hythe upset Ramsgate in the semi-finals.

His decision to carry on is good news for Cannons boss Steve Watt.

“I’m going to play again next year,” said Collin.

“I’ve already spoken to Watty about it.

“I’m not ready to retire yet. If I’d had injuries and been in and out the team, or I’d not been able to hold down a place or not do 90 minutes, then maybe I’d feel different.

“But since February I’ve played nigh-on every minute of every game, so I think that’s telling me I should carry on.

“That midfield role suits me.

“We missed Marv (Marvin Hamilton) in the final but we play well together.

“We’ve got about 150 years between us and then we’ve got boys like Ethan Smith and Shad Ngandu around us with plenty of legs and energy.

“It definitely suits me a lot more in midfield now. It’s a young man’s game, playing up top.”

Collin, like his manager, felt the play-off final was a game too far as Hythe were pipped to a place in the Isthmian Premier.

But what a season it’s been as the Cannons upset big-spending rivals to reach the play-offs and finish with the best defensive record in the league.

Collin said: “It’s a horrible cliche but it felt like it was a game too many for us.

“We lacked a bit of energy and, first half, we didn’t do ourselves justice.

“It felt like we were - not overawed - but almost waiting to get beat.

“We had a go in the second half, we threw bodies forward and asked questions but we just fell a bit short.

“Since the turn of the year, what we’ve done as a group of players is brilliant.

“We looked at it and I think both the semi-final and final, the entire XI was with us at the start of the season.

“We’ve added one or two but we’ve gone through the whole season with 14/15/16 players.

“To do that and reel off 14 wins in 19 games is some going but it wasn’t to be.

“The boys have been brilliant and, as you can tell by the clean-sheet record, we’ve been horrible to play against.

“We’ve just built on that. We’re going to be horrible to play against and we’re going to nick a goal and that’s going to be it, we’re going to shut up shop, and it’s worked.

“I’m not one for banging on about budgets but everyone knows what we’re working with compared to other teams.

“To rattle off the points we have since Christmas is amazing.”

After successive play-off final defeats, Collin can only hope he gets another chance.

Unless he’s the Jonah.

“That’s two on the spin for me now,” he said.

“If I get to the final again next year, It might have to throw a sickie.

“It might not come around for me again but hopefully it does for the young boys.

“For a lot of them this was their first experiece of the play-offs.

“With all due respect, they’ve been mid-table players in this league before this season.

“Hopefully this stands them in good stead to go again and maybe we’ll be a bit luckier next year.”