Ashford knows keeping Witham Town's squad together can help them hit the ground running

Town may have a new manager at the helm but he is thankful that they won't have a totally new-look side when the Bostik League division north kicks off next month.

Ashford has revealed that he has 12 of the squad that finished 11th in the table last year signed back on.

The dozen players returning from last season's squad are John Watson, Kofi Gyebi, Jack Kemsley, Liam Whipps, Luke Mallett, Max Wilson, Pat Ahern, Ryan Imbert, Sam Owusu, Samido Pedulu, Tyler Corlett and Tyler Hayes.

And Ashford believes that will give them a huge advantage when it comes to making a quick start this season.

"Starting the season strongly is important so we have to be getting it right now," he said.

"When we first got together, I asked the group how many games they had won last season by the end of October and none of them knew.

"There had been a couple of cup successes, but it was only two games in the league and I want us to have a better opening spell than that.

"I know we have one of the lowest budgets in the league, but I'm ambitious and I want us to do well and if we want to do that then we have to start well.

"To do that, we need a team that is familiar with each other from day one.

"I didn't want to be working with 18 or 19 individuals who were all new to each other.

"There will be some who drop out and some new ones who come in, but I'm really happy that I have a great nucleus from last year to work with.

"I'm very happy with the blend we have.

"We have plenty of cover in all positions and it all looks very balanced considering the budget that we have to work with.

"I said that I wanted to work with the nucleus of the squad that was here last year and I have been true to my word.

"I reached out to the players early and told them how I wanted to be doing things.

"I asked them to come along so they could hear and see what I had to say and they could make their minds up and I'm glad to see so many of them have stayed.

"Some of them are local boys and they are a young group who want to be given a chance.

"I like the youth set-up here and we want young players to know there is a pathway into the first team.

"We have people here who are Witham Town through and through.

"I'm really big on personalities as much as anything else.

"I want players who are hungry to learn and who want to be on the coaching field with a manager who wants to work with his players.

"I need players like that and speaking to all the players we have, they all appear to be that way.

"They are all desperate to progress their football careers and they all want the same thing."

Ashford said he also had four new players signed on and hoped to be in a position to release the names next week, but there was one significant position that he was working hard to fill.

He added: "The goalkeeping spot is still open and I am speaking to a couple of people.

"We lost Bobby Mason to Bishop's Stortford, but I don't want to rush my choice.

"We are talking with people beyond just this league and this level to make sure we get the right one in."

Ashford said he had also invited striker Scott Kemp back to train with Witham as he built up his rehabilitation from a cruciate knee injury.

Kemp missed the entirety of last season after having an operation on his knee, but is stepping up his comeback and Ashford said he had offered him the chance to train with Witham.

He said: "Scott has been invited to come straight back in with the squad.

"He's doing straight line running at the moment and he will then add in more twisting and turning and I'm hoping he will be able to join back in by October time.

"I think he is targeting a return to playing by the end of this year.

"I won't rush him back as he is doing his rehab and I hope he stays with us so we are trying to get him involved with the group."

Witham Town are also looking to appoint a new physio to work with the first-team and Ashford said anyone interested could make contact with him via the club.