Ashford United boss Tommy Warrilow insists he won’t take rejection in the transfer market personally.

The Nuts & Bolts, like every club, have missed out on targets this summer and Warrilow has moved on quickly each time.

He said: “We thought we had a player coming on Tuesday night but he’s pulled out on us.

“We thought we had one on Monday but that didn’t happen and we thought we had a forward coming down but that didn’t come through so it seems whichever way we turn at the moment, the door gets opened and as we go to walk through it, it pushes shut again.

“It’s been a bit frustrating but we don’t start until August 17 so we’ve got more than three weeks.

“One thing I’ve never done in football is take anything personally. It’s frustrating and if the reason’s not brilliant, it’s even more frustrating. But to be fair to the people who have said that, I always put myself in their shoes. I know it’s not nice but I understand and I probably would have done the same thing.

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“It’s about levels and it can be about finances. I had a deal for one player, went away, came back and he’d gone somewhere else. You can easily lose them if something else comes along and offers them a better deal.

“In the last week or so, we’ve been bringing players in who haven’t got the deals they wanted but they’ve had other offers in between that phone call and they’ve shot off for levels or for money.

“It’s one of those things you’ve got to walk away from.

“I still think there will be a big fallout over the next week or so with players.

“I’m not flapping or panicking because I’ve written out what we’ve got signed and it’s good. I’m happy with it and it’s quality.

“We’ve not just gone for quantity and there is competition for places. The only area (we’re short in) is central defence but we’re hoping something will happen between now and Saturday’s game.”

Ashford are away to Canvey Island on Saturday but their pre-season has been disrupted by injuries to key players.

New signings David Smith (hamstring) and Tom O’Connor are both struggling while Jay May’s calf is giving him grief.

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Lee Prescott and Dan Stubbs are both away, although Brendon McCarthy has recovered from food poisoning.

Warrilow said: “It’s given the trialists extra play time to try to impress. We’re using the under-23s and that’s good for them but we need to get some of the boys up and running again.

“We’re looking strong and once we’ve got that centre-half, we’re nigh-on there.

“We need to get some squad players in as well and we’ve got the development side which can help fill the bench.”

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