Ashford United manager Danny Kedwell was thrilled with his first addition - a trusted assistant.

Dean Beckwith has followed Kedwell to Homelands from Chatham Town, where Kedwell was player-assistant manager.

Kedwell has been busy behind the scenes since taking over at the Nuts & Bolts, securing the players he wants from last season’s squad. Having a trusted assistant manager was also a priority.

Both had joined Chatham as players together two and a half years ago, after two years together at Havant & Waterlooville, so they know each other well.

Kedwell said: “I played with him for the last five or six years now, we have a great relationship and trust each other. I trust his opinions in the game and hopefully it will work.”

He added: “His wealth of knowledge and stability will greatly benefit Ashford United. He is not only a great motivator but also an all-around nice guy.

“I am delighted to have Dean on board. He's a fantastic addition to our team, and we can't wait to get to work."

Beckwith has previously enjoyed promotions at Eastleigh and Sutton United before back-to-back success at Chatham Town. Chats only just missed out on a third straight promotion in the Isthmian Premier play-offs.

Both he and Kedwell will register as players for next season with the manager saying: “There has to be a time when I do retire but me and Dean are there if needed and it’s not a bad little back-up!”

Chatham manager Kevin Hake saluted Beckwith after the defender announced his decision to leave the Medway side.

“Whenever Becks was called upon he always delivered,” said the Chats boss.

“We managed back-to-back promotions aided by the experience of Becks.

“Whether he was playing or mentoring fellow players, his professionalism was always on point. On behalf of everyone at Chatham we wish him all the best”.

Kedwell, meanwhile, isn’t keen on making wholesale changes at Ashford - having learned lessons from a tough introduction to management.

Kedwell started from scratch while manager at Cray Wanderers three years ago and putting together a whole new team wasn’t easy.

He left midway through the season there and eventually ended up at Chatham where he enjoyed a successful two-and-a-half years as player-assistant manager - gaining more valuable knowhow.

Armed with that experience, he’s been keen to give himself a ready-made base to work from, which meant keeping hold of many players who played for the Nuts & Bolts already.

He said: “I learned my lesson when I was at Cray. I took the job without one player, I had to recruit a whole squad. I didn’t get the time to build on that, it was a tough job but a good learning curve, I learned a lot from that.

“It was a rush then, such a rush, just to get a squad out to play.

“I have got time now and I am not panicking. I have kept the ones that I want to keep and we can build around them. They know the club, they’ve been there, they are good players as well, otherwise I wouldn’t be keeping them.”

Kedwell is clear in his mind the type of players he needs but knows he might have to be patient.

“Straight away I knew who I wanted,” he said. “I’ve had targets, who I think can play the way I play, that is the main thing, to get the players to fit your philosophy.

“I have got my plans, my back-ups, if I can’t get my target I have another back-up who is similar, it is easier when you’re not rushing.

“You aren’t going to get everyone you want but it’s a bit of a waiting game this time of year because the season’s only just finished, people want to have a break and think about stuff and speak to other clubs.

“I have talked to the existing players, to get them done. It is not nice to sign players before speaking to them and that’s done.”