Long-serving defender Bradley Simms is excited by the new era at Ashford United.

Simms admits he was upset when former boss Tommy Warrilow left at the end of last season.

It was Warrilow who brought him to Homelands from VCD three years ago and the pair enjoyed a great relationship.

But when new boss Kevin Watson made it clear he saw Simms as part of his plans, the full-back was happy to stay.

“I’m excited,” said Simms. “It feels like a fresh start.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Tommy - everyone used to say how close we were - and I was upset when he went.

“If he’d found a new club, I’m not sure whether I’d have gone or not, but obviously I had to wait and see what happened with the manager here.

“I enjoy it at Ashford and I’ve got a really good relationship with the owners, Derek (Pestridge) and Don (Crosbie).

“Sometimes you can get complacent being with a manager for so long like I was with Tommy.

“Because we got on so well, I probably knew I could get away with certain things, whereas with a new manager, I’ve got to be on my A-game 24/7 to get myself in the team. I can’t just rely on being close with someone.

“Where I’d known Tommy for so long, everyone assumed I’d be in the team, so it’s nice for the new manager to still want me.”

Simms revealed he’d turned down opportunities to play for Watson in the past.

But there was no awkwardness when the pair sat down for talks.

“Kev actually came in for me a few times when I was with Tommy and I stayed with Tommy, so it was nice when he said he still wanted me,” said Simms.

“Because I’d turned him down before, I didn’t know if he might want to bring someone else in, so I was pleasantly surprised.

“When we met, he said, ‘We’ve been here before’.

“He said, ‘You’ve made me come to your club so you can play for me’.

“I feel I’ve already built a nice relationship with Kev as well.

“I talk to him most days and the boys say, ‘Oh, is this the new one?’

“I say back to them, ‘Just because I get on well with the manager, there’s nothing wrong with that’.”

Simms is impressed with the squad Watson has assembled since taking the reins at Ashford.

The Nuts & Bolts will be among the fancied teams in an Isthmian South East division that looks set to be as competitive as ever.

With so many teams vying for promotion, it’s great for fans and players.

Simms said: “I’m sure it will be just as competitive this year.

“Good teams have come down and good teams have come up, and then there’s teams like us, Ramsgate and Cray Valley who seem to be up and around it and just can’t get out of the league.

“It’s definitely going to be another competitive season when you see all the names flying about.

“You like to play in a league like that and I think the team will thrive on that.

“If it wasn’t a competitive league, people wouldn’t be as excited about it.

“But for players, fans and neutrals, seeing the kind of league that’s been built, and the players in there, it can only be a bonus.”

Ashford won 3-1 at Snodland on Tuesday night, having lost 5-0 to Brentwood on Saturday.

The Nuts & Bolts visit Lordswood tomorrow (3pm).