Ashford have completed four new signings in time for the Isthmian South East campaign.

Goalkeeper Jordan Carey, midfielders Brett Patton and Rhyle Ovenden and forward Bailo Camara are the new faces.

Camara, formerly of Hastings, capped an impressive display with a goal as United ended pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Cray Wanderers on Sunday.

An early substitute after Jay May suffered a back injury, he took his chance and is on board for the new season which starts at home to Burgess Hill this Saturday (3pm).

Ex-Chatham man Carey is the new No.1 at Homelands following Sam Mott’s departure, ex-Whitehawk man Ovenden has represented Wales at under-17 and under-19 level, while Patton’s former clubs include Worthing.

Ashford had seven players missing against Cray, mainly through injuries, so the reinforcements come at a good time.

Manager Tommy Warrilow said: “Like everyone else, we’ve had our sob stories with knocks and niggles over pre-season.

“We’ve been all right but we had seven missing on Sunday.

“What it does is weaken the bench when you’ve got that many out.

“There’s no one who’s definitely out on Saturday yet but, at the same time, I’m not going to rush anyone back who’s not quite 100 per cent.

“Every day will count but if there’s any doubt they won’t play because there’s no point undoing all their work, as much as you want to play your strongest side.

“We’ve kept the majority of last year’s squad and touched it up with a few new faces.

“They’re all good players and if we can get everyone fit, it’s down to them to scrap it out to see who starts.”

This will be Warrilow’s fourth season at Ashford but he’s yet to have a full campaign in charge.

He succeeded Gary Alexander partway through 2018/19, leading Ashford to the play-off final, with the following two seasons curtailed by the Covid pandemic.

“I keep reminding people I haven’t had a full season yet,” said Warrilow. “It would be nice to do that.

“Hand on heart, I don’t know how it’s going to go.

“There will be good games, bad games, frustrating games and we’ll have to pick the bones out of every single one.

“Everyone expects Hastings and Cray Valley to be strong and I’m sure people will throw us in there, along with a few other Kent clubs.

"We have to concentrate on what we’re doing. We’re a big club and we should be up there.

“I’ve said to the boys we’re privileged to be here because it’s a big club, it’s probably the best ground in the league and the potential is there to go through this league and the one above, if we grow as a club off the pitch as well.

“I’ve been managing as long as I was a player and I still get that buzz from getting on the training ground, organising the boys and getting them playing to their potential.

“Anyone coming into my dressing room knows how much I care. I don’t shout and holler too much but every now and then I do lose my rag a little bit.

“You do it because you care and the moment you haven’t got that passion, it’s time to get out.

“I’ve got the fire in my belly, I want to get promotion out of this league and the next one and the next one. I still want to manage as high as I can and the club’s got everything going for it to move up.”

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