We're not going to make the numbers up, insists Langton

Wednesday 08th July 2009

ASHFORD TOWN assistant manager Hugo Langton insists it’s “business as usual” at Homelands, despite a summer of uncertainty off the pitch, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Nuts & Bolts have had a couple of pre-season training sessions, which were held at Moat Park in Maidstone, and Langton, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk is pleased to get back to business on the park.

“It’s nice to talk about the football again and it’s great to be planning for the new season,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned and as I’m aware, it’s now business as usual. Everything off the pitch is settled We know what we’re working with going forward and we’re just excited about the new season.”

The summer financial problems at the club has seen some players decide to play their football away from the club.

The versatile Craig Wilkins (Metropolitan Police), goalkeeper Josh Willis (Kingstonian) have moved on and Daniel and Elliot Brathwaite are reported to have left the club.

Winger, Jimmy Bottle, meanwhile, will play for tenants Maidstone United against Accrington Stanley at Homelands on Saturday, as he is on trial at the Ryman Premier League club.

Sean Ray and Jimmy Elford are currently training with their former club, Hastings United.

Langton, meanwhile, was keeping the identities of the club’s trialists close to his chest.

“That’s unfair on the players we’ve brought in,” he said. “All I would say is training with us at the moment, we’ve got ten new guys who have come in. Some have played higher, one or two we’ve pulled from below and they are really pulling themselves through it in the sessions.

“They want to play for us so we’ll see what happens in the next few weeks and we’ll start making decisions, but it’s not fair to start naming names.”

Manager Steve Lovell is staging an open trial shortly to find some uncut diamonds that are good enough to play Ryman League Division One South football.

“We’ve been inundated with a lot of trialist requests so what we’ve decided to do is the week after next we’ll be having a trial game behind closed doors, just to give people a chance,” said Langton.

“Steve likes giving people a chance, we want to give them a chance, so if we can pick up one of them it’s a worthwhile exercise, it’s not going to anyone any harm.”

The Nuts & Bolts begin their six-match pre-season campaign at Tunbridge Wells next Saturday, although only one of those matches will be at home and that is against tenants Maidstone United on Saturday, 25th July.

The Stones, meanwhile, welcome Accrington Stanley (Saturday), Dover Athletic (14th July), and Grays Athletic (4th August) to The Homelands.

“Maidstone have got (three) dates that they were given priority for home games, it’s just the way it’s worked out, it’s not a deliberate thing,” added Langton.

With the Ryman League fixtures set to be published next Wednesday morning, Langton insists the club will be looking for improvement next season, when the campaign kick-off on 15th August.

“We’re not coming in to make up the numbers,” he said. “It’s going to be quite an open league next year.

“It’s about having a good start and putting runs together. We won seven or eight games in a row last year and we have to maintain that form.

“It’s going to be a competitive league and it will be a bold move at this stage to make huge predictions. We’re not going to make up the numbers, that’s not our mentality, we want to win every game we play but so do other managers.

“It’s going to be an interesting and exciting season with extra local derbies as well.

“It’s great that Chatham are back in, obviously Ramsgate are in the mix as well, some cracking games really for supporters off all the clubs as well.”

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