By Alex Hoad

Ashford boss Steve Lovell has refused to set a target for the next season until after he knows the size of his budget.

After a summer of turmoil at Homelands, Lovell claims the club have paid the players monies owed to them and he will sit down this week to discuss plans for the coming season.

He believed it would take a hectic couple of weeks as he prepared to try and persuade the players who got Town to the brink of the Ryman League Division 1 South play-offs last season to stay with the club.

Lovell (pictured) said: "I am hoping to sit down with the chairman and the owner this week. I believe the problems have been sorted out, the players are up-to-date and have been given what they expected and what they deserve.

"It is good news. Hopefully now we can push forward. It has not been easy but hopefully now the things behind the scenes have been sorted out we can move forward."

Lovell acknowledged that the club may be playing catch-up in terms of putting their squad together ahead of the new campaign, but he added: "I have still got a good squad from last year.

"The first thing I’ll do when I find out about my budget is to talk to them. I want to keep as many of the players as I can."

However, he added: "I won’t be able to set any goals for the season until I
know what kind of budget I have to work with."