Manager Jason Whitmore believes Ashford United can challenge for promotion next season.

The Nuts & Bolts are unbeaten in four matches and half of their 20 league points have been collected since the start of December.

They’ve climbed a place to 22nd in Bostik South and Whitmore believes the future is bright for his new-look squad.

He said: “There is 100% momentum. We’re in good form and I now believe that any team from the top-six downwards, we can beat. We will compete with any of those teams and pick points up.

“We’re nowhere near the finished article. It’s only the early stages for us but since me and Paul Barnes took control, the atmosphere has been better. We know, off the pitch, what we’ve been doing and it’s then replicating that on the pitch on a Saturday or Tuesday.

“That’s been the key part of our transition, taking it from training into the match and that’s now happening consistently.

“They’re a new bunch of lads. If you look at the team that finished last season, you’ve only got Pat Kingwell who’s still here and he’s injured at the moment.

“We’ve brought our own players in and the changing room banter is coming. The characters are coming out and each training session or game we have, it gets better and better.

“We’re looking at next season, not this season, challenging for the play-offs at least. The rest of this season will show me and the fans where we’re going.

“We’re a work in progress, so are we going in the right direction? I’m certain we are and I’m also certain we still need one or two players who will make us a real challenging team.”

Ashford won 3-0 at home to Shoreham on Saturday before coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Faversham on New Year’s Day.

Those results followed a 2-2 draw at VCD and 3-1 home win against Sittingbourne over Christmas.

Whitmore said: “We now have a team. We’ve got people who can affect games and the strength in depth is a lot bigger. Now, when I’m making a substitution, it will affect the game in a positive way rather than a negative way.”

Ashford are at home to Chipstead on Saturday.