Tommy Warrilow insists Ashford's ambition on the pitch must be matched by a growing infrastructure off it.

The Nuts & Bolts are chasing promotion to Bostik Premier and have longer-term plans to reach National League South.

They've made big strides under Warrilow this season but the manager has warned they mustn't try to run before they can walk.

He said: "It’s all right going to see chairmen and speaking to fans and they all want things but it’s having the tools to do them.

"Any manager will tell you if you can go to a club and push them on, it’s great but the club’s got to grow off the pitch.

"There wasn’t much support at (my previous club) Thamesmead. We thought going to groundshare at Dartford might bring a few fans in but unfortunately it didn’t.

"We’re at a club now that's got a fanbase, its own ground, a 3G pitch that’s getting rented out all the time and the youth structure. Everything’s there and hopefully now we can push the first team forward."

So how much potential does Warrilow see at Ashford?

"Until you get to the next step, you don’t know," he said. "You’re hoping that you can go to the next step off the pitch and speaking to Don (Crosbie), they’ve got plans in place to progress off the pitch once we get to the next level and the level above.

"All you can do as a manager is get there and see what happens.

"We went into Tonbridge when they were equal-bottom of the Ryman Premier League and it took us two or three years to get up.

"We went into Conference South and that’s a massive jump. We were learning but we couldn’t get the funds in to get the players in to sustain a push in that league.

"To survive for three years was a massive achievement. If you do push on, you need to make sure the infrastructure is right off the pitch."

Ashford are third in Bostik South East following their 2-1 defeat at Herne Bay on Saturday.

They're two points behind Hastings, in second, but leaders Cray Wanderers now need just five more wins to be crowned champions.

Ashford have signed Sam Hasler on a month's loan from Folkestone Invicta and the midfielder could make his home debut against Phoenix Sports on Saturday.

Warrilow was speaking on this week's KM Football Podcast which you can listen to below: