Tom Carlse is looking forward to working with new boss Kevin Watson after returning to Ashford.

Left-back Carlse was impressed by Watson when the pair held talks over a summer move.

It left the 29-year-old, who previously played for the club in the 2018/19 season, in no doubt about his future after leaving Isthmian South East rivals Ramsgate.

“Kev came across really well,” said Carlse, who won the division with Cray Wanderers after leaving the Nuts & Bolts four years ago.

“I’m excited to come back to Ashford.

“He’s very ambitious but realistic at the same time.

“He wants to win every game but he’s not going to look too far ahead.

“We focus on one game at a time, chalk it off and move on to the next one.

“I was really impressed with his manner. He seems a genuine guy and someone I’d like to work with.

“Methodical is a good word but at the same time confident in his own ability.

“He’s someone who has the credentials to be a very good manager. I liked his approach when I sat down with him.

“A lot of managers will say they want to win the league but they’ve never won a league and they don’t know how to win a league.

“If you say that, and then you have a nightmare start, all of a sudden it’s let’s go for the play-offs.

“But, the way Kev’s doing it, going into it with a game-by-game mindset, you’re not putting any targets on the season before it’s even started.

“You can align your aims as the season progresses.”

Carlse, an energetic full-back, finished the 2022/23 season at Ramsgate following a short spell out of football after leaving Lewes.

He’d looked on course for a second Isthmian South East title as Rams led the the table before being overhauled by Chatham.

They eventually finished runners-up, losing to Hythe on penalties in the play-off semi-finals.

Carlse, whose partner Melissa is due to give birth to twin boys in August, said: “I came in at a point where they were a good few points clear in the league.

“There were a few injuries in the team and then I got concussed in my first game and pulled a hamstring not long after.

“I paid the price for taking two months out and expecting to get straight back into it.

“It was a bit unrealistic on my part but but Coyley (Jamie Coyle, then-Rams boss) was brilliant with me. He was unbelievable.

“You could see why the team had got themselves into a good position. It was sheer heart and desire and they were a group who knew what they needed to do win games.

“It was a disappointing end to the season but, by Ramsgate’s standards over the years, it still turned out to be a very good season. The club can be happy with the outcome.

“It’s not necessarily the way they thought it would pan out with 10 games to go but if you’d said at the start of the season you’ll finish in the play-offs, I’m sure they’d have bitten your hand off.

“For me personally, I’d fallen out of love with football and needed time out of it.

“Ramsgate gave me the opportunity to get back in and going there reignited the fire again.

“I want to enjoy my football as much as I can, for as long as I can, and I feel I’ll be in good shape for the new season.”

Meanwhile, Ashford have signed midfielder Connor Dymond, a player who worked with Watson at Cray Valley and Herne Bay.

Winger Adem Ramadan is also back on board.