New players are already contacting Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow as he waits to speak to some of this season’s squad about their future plans.

Jay May, Lee Prescott, Clark Woodcock and Josh Wisson have already committed themselves to the Nuts & Bolts for 2019/20 but talks with other players are ongoing.

Warrilow will be working on a reduced budget next season but is confident United can challenge for promotion again.

He said: “It’s a frustrating time but I’ve been doing it for donkey’s years.

“We’ve still got a lot of our lads away but Jay May’s committed for next year, Lee Prescott, Clark Woodcock, Josh Wisson and Sam Mott and there’s still a lot more I’ve got to talk to.

“It’s going to be, as usual, a slow process but the nice thing is I’ve had quite a lot of calls from players. I had one on Monday from a good centre-forward so there’s no need to panic.

“Things have changed from last year. The budget is not going to be the same but I think it’s a budget which will allow us to make a fist of it to do better than last year.

“I’m not going to hide behind the figures. If it was a really poor budget, you’ve got to let the fans know ‘be patient’ but it’s not.

“It’s a budget which is good enough to get us in the same position we were in this year.

“If people want to call that pressure, it’s up to them but I think it’s a fair budget for the league we’re in and the players either want to buy into it or they don’t.”

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Ashford missed out on Frannie Collin when the former Margate striker signed for Hythe last week but Warrilow respects his decision to choose grass over 3G.

He said: “I spoke to Fran the other week and what a fantastic shout. Frannie could have signed for me all day long but knowing he could have been injured quite a bit and to have that sort of relationship with a player is refreshing and it’s honest.

“I’m not a complicated bloke, I’ll tell players as it is and I think it comes full circle.

“When you get a phone call like that from an ex-player, it puts some belief back into the game.

“We’ve got four or five players committed and I’ve still got to speak to Sam Corne, Jerald Aboagye, Mo Kamara, Laurent Mendy and Trey Williams.

“Motty got married when the season finished and Corney does his coaching at night so it’s just a catch-up, that’s all it is.

“I’m not going to start flapping but at the same time I am speaking to players who are ringing me up.

“If I do offer the boys a deal and they’re going to umm and arr, I will be offering it around to someone else.

“If they commit, fantastic, and the deal’s gone, that’s the way it will be.”