Ashford boss Steve Lovell has pledged his future to the club, despite the prospect of dropping down to Kent League football.

Lovell said he and assistant Mark Patterson never considered walking away from the troubled club after their resignation from the Ryman League, despite admitting it would have been the easiest thing to have done.

He said: "We knew this might happen so we’ll just get on with it. I’ve had no thoughts of leaving at all.

"It might be the easy thing to do but Don Crosbie is trying to keep the club alive and afloat and we had no hesitation in staying to help.

"I spoke to the players on Tuesday night and it is up to them whether they stay but I certainly want them to.

"The early indications are that the boys want to stay together but I’m sure there are vultures out there waiting to swoop."

Lovell said decisions on playing budgets, expenses and even staff wages would be taken as soon as possible but insisted he would manage the Nuts and Bolts for free.

He said: "We must wait to see who the administrator is. Hopefully, they appoint a football person to oversee things.

"Until they have been appointed, it is out of everyone’s hands but we need something to happen as soon as possible.

"Hopefully, the supporters will continue to support us and we can have a successful year in the Kent League. We have shown loyalty to the club and hopefully the supporters will too.

"The administrator might not want us here but we will stay, even for nothing.

"Someone has to stay and take the club forward."