Tommy Warrilow takes Ashford to Ramsgate on Saturday insisting he was never in the frame for the manager's job at Southwood.

Some people thought Warrilow would follow Paul Bowden-Brown to Thanet following the demise of Thamesmead Town.

Bowden-Brown is now Rams chief executive but Warrilow says he was never in line to replace Lloyd Blackman in the dugout.

Blackman resigned last weekend and he's already been replaced by Nick Davis.

Warrilow said: "It's unfortunate Lloyd's decided to walk but that's his decision.

"There's been a change down there and it puts to bed the rumours that I was supposed to be going down there with Paul and Ian Docker.

"It's far from the truth but you can't stop the rumour mill from turning.

"I was never going down to Ramsgate. I knew Paul was helping them out but everyone assumed that (I was going too).

"I got text messages when I took the Ashford job saying 'it's a good job but everyone thought you were going somewhere else'.

"I said at the time it was unfair on Lloyd because he was doing a good job down there.

"I wished him all the best and it's going to be a tough game down there because they're always a difficult side to beat, especially at home.

"We're going there looking to only get stronger. They're taking on board different instructions and that will take a bit of time to bed in.

"But I know, going forward, it will work and the lads will get in better areas to perhaps create more opportunities and get more goals."

Ashford have taken four points from Warrilow's first two games in charge and they're just three points outside the Bostik South East play-offs.

Rival clubs made approaches for United players last week but so far there have been no departures.

"It was two players," Warrilow said. "We thought 'they're all going to start coming over the hill' but we spoke to the players, made them aware of it and they've stayed.

"We're just getting on with it and without sounding wrong, if they go, they go. We can't make them stay but they seem to be buying into what we want to do here.

"We're giving them the opportunity to come on the journey with us. We've said 'if you get better offers it's fine' but the boys have been fine.

"There's definitely some ability there but at the same there are good players trying to contact me to come down and see what's happening down at Ashford. That keeps the boys on their toes."