I will not pay over the odds for players, insists Lovell

ASHFORD TOWN manager Steve Lovell has slammed an unnamed Ryman Premier League club for slapping a £10,000 transfer fee on the head of one of his targets, writes Stephen McCartney.

The ambitious club, who today unveiled plans for a £8.5m new sports village redevelopment at The Homelands, which includes a 5,000 seater-stadium, a 100-bed hotel and a sporting village complex, including an indoor tennis centre and all-weather pitches, insist the fee for the striker is just too high.

Lovell believes clubs are upping their evaluations of players because Ashford Town are financially well backed.

“Because everything is happening, people have the wrong idea,” Lovell told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“They think Ashford have loads of money, they think we’ll pay £10,000 for this person and that’s not the way.

“People have to earn the right to accept what we think is the right value for a player and if that’s the case we’ll sign them. If not then we’re not going to be held to blackmail for players - and we won’t be!

“They will have a fair fee and done properly, or we won’t bother. We’re not going to be blackmailed at all into signing players or throwing money about.”

However, if the Welshman doesn’t get his number one target, he does have others on his shopping list.

He said: “There’s loads of players out there. I know there’s certain players I’d like to get to the club.

“We can’t legislate for other clubs putting their (transfer evaluations up). We’ll just wait and see what happens on that one but hopefully we’ll have someone in place for the start.”

The former Hastings United and Sittingbourne boss, meanwhile, insists he still has a set budget to work on, despite the owners splashing the cash to turn Homelands into another great venue to watch football in Kent.

“I’ve brought in all my players from November and it certainly weren’t to do with money,” Lovell insisted.

“It was because they wanted to come here, play for me, and play for Ashford.

“Alright, financially they might have been a little bit better off than they would be at other clubs, but I think what other clubs think and what actually goes on are two completely different things.

“I run a tight ship here regarding finances and people will come here and earn what they should get.

“No-one deserves to get something for nothing so they’ve got to work at it and if the boys’ come and do a good pre-season with me and deserve a contract, they’ll get a contract.”

Lovell, meanwhile, confirmed that both striker Walid Matata and full-back Daniel Brathwaite have opted to leave the club.

“They’ve decided to stay up in London,” said Lovell.

“I haven’t spoken to Walid. I just told him he’s not going to be in my plans this year. What he’s doing now I’m not sure.”

Explaining Brathwaite’s situation, Lovell said: “He didn’t want to travel this year because of his family. He’s got a young son who he needs to be with at weekends so he’ll find a local club.

“They’ve both been good servants to Ashford and we wish them all the best. We just hope they’re happy where they decide to play football.”

Lovell does, however, have high hopes for two of his summer signings, defender Jimmy Elford, 27, from Hastings United and left-sided versatile player Charlie Glyde (Folkestone Invicta).

“Jimmy Elford is very experienced, he’s only 27, but he’s been around a long time,” said Lovell.

“He was at Hastings for five or six years and was there when I was manager and he’s a very good defender, a good left or right back.

“He’s very honest and a hardworking player who wants success and that’s why he’s come here because he knows were not just going to make up the numbers this year.

“We’re going to have a go and that’s the type of person I want.”

Speaking about Glyde’s return to Homelands, Lovell said: “Everybody knows Charlie from his time here. I was at Gillingham with him when he was a youth team player and I know what he can bring.

“He’s a very, very enthusiastic left-sided player who can play anywhere down the left-hand side and again he’s got the right attitude and that’s the main thing.

“If we can bring two or three more people in through the pre-season like that then I’ll add to the squad.”

Visit Ashford Town’s website: www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk