Danny Kedwell is backing his 16-year-old son Preston to shine after bringing him to Ashford.

Kedwell has signed the teenager from Hollands & Blair and is confident he can make a difference.

He enjoyed a prolific pre-season at Blair, while still 15, including a goal against Gillingham.

And Nuts & Bolts boss Kedwell had no hesitation in giving him a chance to show what he can do at Homelands.

“He’s such a prolific goalscorer, even at the age he is now,” said Kedwell of his son.

“He can sniff out a goal and I’ve brought him in just to learn the men’s game, be around good players, and to set him on the pathway.

“There’ll be times when he comes on and scores, I know there will, and that’s what we’ve been missing.

“If we’re losing or drawing, I know I can throw him on and he’ll get a chance because he’s got such a knack of being in the right place at the right time.

“He scored six in four games for Blair in pre-season but couldn’t play competitively until September, when he turned 16, but then it was hard to get in the team.

“People are scared to play 16-year-olds but age doesn’t matter to me.

“If you’re good enough, you’ll play and he’ll give us so much energy.

“From the first whistle to the last, he doesn’t stop working.”

It’s not unheard of for manager-son relationships to cause friction in a squad but Kedwell has no worries on that front.

He added: “If I thought that was going to be a problem, I’d never sign him.

“When we’re at football, he knows and I know that I don’t look at him as a son, I look at him as a footballer.

“I’ll be just as harsh on him as I am anyone else.

“There’s no favourites.

“The group I’ve got here are magnificent and I know I can trust them to treat Preston as a player, not as the manager’s son.

“It reminds me of when I was at Gillingham with Martin Allen and his son Charlie was there.

“No one ever thought anything of it and it’s the same here.

“If anything, Preston will be the worst one - he’ll slag me off more than anyone!”

At the other end of the age range, Kedwell has talked Matt Bodkin out of retirement at 41.

He added the former Gillingham, Maidstone and Chatham midfielder to his management team last week.

But Bodkin ended up coming off the bench as Ashford beat Walton & Hersham in the FA Trophy last weekend.

“He’s the fittest 41-year-old I’ve ever known - he’s a machine,” said Kedwell.

“I brought him in to do the fitness side - he’s been a fitness trainer for most of his life - but he trained and I was like, ‘Mate, you’ve still got to play, you’re unbelievable’.

“He took a bit of persuading but he’s willing to be in and around the squad.

“He’s on the staff but, like me and Dean (Beckwith, assistant manager), if he’s needed, he’ll play.

“We know he can step in and it won’t weaken the team.

“If we’re up there in the later stages of the season, you might need experienced lads with that bit of know-how.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Max Walsh has left Ashford for Isthmian South East rivals Margate.

He made his Gate debut in a 2-1 win at Lancing on Saturday.

“It was his choice to go,” said Kedwell.

“I’ve said to the boys it’s a squad game and you’ve got to fight for your place.

“I get where he’s coming from because he backs himself and he just wants to play.

“It’s a shame because it’s still early in the season and he would have got his chance but that’s football.

“You don’t have people on contract at these levels and you can’t keep everyone happy.

“He’s a good player, Walshy, and a good lad as well.”