Ashford boss Gary Alexander is keeping a close eye on Twitter as more players start to become available.

Plenty of those who’ve been trialling with clubs in higher divisions are now being released with the new season just weeks away.

Alexander admits his squad is still a work in progress and won’t rule out making further signings.

He said: “It’s difficult because we’ve had a big turnaround at the club. There will be tinkering along the way.

“Certain players become available and you can’t turn them down. Boys will have been on trial higher up the ladder and they don’t quite make it at that level but they’re very good at our level.

“We’re lucky to have social media these days. If you scroll it, like I do, every morning, every lunchtime and every evening you see teams from other leagues saying they’ve had trialists on board and decisions will be made.

“The following day, they’ve been let go so you’ve got to keep your eye out and make sure you’re on the ball.

“We’re always on the lookout but I’ve got 16-18 players in there who have got the opportunity because they’re in the building at the moment. It’s up to them.”

United lost 3-0 at Chatham on Tuesday having drawn 1-1 with Barking on Saturday.

Alexander said: “Pre-season is about getting fit and learning and we haven’t done much in terms of how we’re going to play.

“We’ve knocked the ball about a couple of times in phases but the last two performances could have been better.

“In patches we were good with the ball but we lacked quality in the final third which we have to work on and improve quickly.”

Ashford will start the season at home to local rivals Hythe on August 11 after the Bostik South East fixtures were released.

“Hythe have got their own expectations,” Alexander said. “Sam Denly’s put a good squad together and he’s got plenty of players I know.

“Whether you play Hythe on day one or a team who aren’t as big, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got to play everyone at some point.

“They’re games that everyone should want to play in. As a professional footballer, when I had a London derby, they were games I looked forward to and having so many Kent games adds a little bit of spice.”

Ashford visit SC Thamesmead on Saturday before hosting Margate on Tuesday.