Jason Whitmore is planning a new training regime at Ashford United.

The caretaker boss took his squad to the Park Club Gym in the town on Tuesday for the first of regular spinning sessions and plans to continue changing things at training on Thursday evening.

He said: “I did it to help team spirit by getting the lads together and putting a smile on their faces.

“We had an instructor and the boys worked hard.

“We will go there at least once a week when there’s no midweek football and need to do something because our young players are not doing the right stuff needed and fitness levels have to be improved.”

Whitmore is also planning a couple of signings – a striker and a central midfielder and was hoping to hear more on both ahead of the weekend.

Whitmore admitted Saturday’s 6-0 FA Cup defeat against Bostik South rivals Horsham was men against boys but says United’s preparations weren’t the best.

He said: “I knew on Friday we were struggling and then lost three players to failed fitness tests before the game. We had to change things around, Charlie Sharp had to play with an injury and we weren’t strong enough, playing against an experienced side."

Whitmore hopes to field a stronger side against Molesey at Homelands on Saturday but still has doubts about several players.

Goalkeeper George Kamurasi is due back from holiday, Micky Phillips is set to return after missing the Horsham defeat but there are still doubts about skipper Richard Avery and Dave Botterill, who have both been nursing groin problems.

Ollie Perkins (foot) and Connor Westney (hamstring) are close to a return, while fears that Luke Eldridge suffered a fractured ankle against Sittingbourne last month have proved unfounded.

Liam McCreadie and Alfie Hacker both scored hat-tricks as Ashford defeated Chatham 8-2 in the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup at Homelands. Ashford face Folkestone in the next round later in the month.