The prospective new owners at Ashford United have rejected interest in the vacant manager’s job from a “well-known ex-Premier League player”.

There’s been big interest in the role at Homelands since it emerged long-serving owner Don Crosbie had struck a deal to sell the club.

Alan Walker looked after the team for the final nine games of the season after Kevin Watson was sacked and has been leading the search for a new boss.

Walker has the trust of the incoming owners and will have a big role to play in the new regime.

With the takeover set to be concluded by May 31, managers continue to throw their hat in the ring.

“We had a CV sent in this week from a very well-known ex-Premier League player,” said Walker.

“But we’ve got people in mind.

“It’s all right people like that coming forward but if they don’t know the league, they’re basically just wasting money for you because they don’t know the players and they get frustrated.

“We need someone who knows the players at this level, who’s been successful and understands the game, and we feel the people we’ve interviewed all fit that bill.

“The CV actually came in from an agent and we’ve basically just blanked it.

“Where it’s an agent, he’s probably been on to a few people, I suppose.

“If they’d made personal contact, I’d have made the decision to say sorry or yes, depending on who it was.”

Talks are ongoing with candidates but no announcement is expected until the takeover is formally completed.

Walker said: “We’re still in negotiations with a number of people but I don’t think there’ll be anything to say on that until we take over.

“God forbid, if for some silly reason the takeover falls through and we’ve announced a new manager, it might be someone Don doesn’t want.

“Until everything goes through, it’s Don’s club.”