Adem Ramadan likes the look of Ashford’s squad - but is reserving judgement on their Isthmian South East promotion chances.

Ramadan, released by former boss Tommy Warrilow midway through last season, rejoined the club this summer.

The midfielder has been given another opportunity at Homelands by new boss Kevin Watson and intends to take it with both hands.

There’s plenty of quality in the camp with surviving members from Warrilow’s final year in charge joined by a number of new faces.

Ramadan, 27, can see the potential but doesn’t want to tempt fate.

Ashford lead the early standings after winning their opening two league games, beating Sevenoaks 2-1 on Tuesday night.

“I’m quite optimistic about the season,” said Ramadan, who made his first league start of the campaign against Sevenoaks after recovering from a hamstring injury.

“The recruitment’s been good, Kevin’s a good coach and Adam Flanagan and Tommy Osborne (Watson’s assistants) are really helpful.

“It’s going well but I don’t want to say too much and end up looking silly.

“Everyone plays football because you want to win.

“You enjoy football but you only really enjoy it when you’re winning.

“We’ve got a good recipe for it this season, we just need to make sure we put all our efforts into making it work.

“You get a feeling when you’ve got good players around you but it’s too early to make a call on how we’re going to do.

“You could start amazing and end up falling to pieces.

“It’s making sure you stay consistent. In football, you can have a bad result, someone gets upset and it all goes to pot.”

Ramadan, part of the Tonbridge side who promotion to National League South four years ago, made several appearances for local club Erith Town after leaving Ashford last season.

But the Nuts & Bolts retained his Isthmian League registration and Watson invited him back after taking charge in May.

A winger by trade, he’s looking to get stuck into a new role after recovering from a hamstring injury.

“I had a few offers in the summer but nothing too great except for Ashford,” said Ramadan.

“I didn’t want to leave last season so it was nice to get the opportunity to go back and play with players I knew.

“We’ve also recruited some good players, so there’s good competition for places.

“When Kevin signed me, he said he likes to play with two No.10s.

“I have played as a No.10 before but just as a secondary position, where I’ve always been a winger.

“As I’ve got older, I’ve lost a bit of pace, just through niggly injuries here and there, so playing as a No.10 suits me.

“This is the most I’ve enjoyed my football since the Tonbridge days, because of the way Kevin wants to play.

“At the moment we always seem to have an overload all over the pitch and when you’ve got good players next to you, it’s easier to play football.

“You’ve got Ian Draycott next to me, or Lanre Azzez or Vance Bola, and that’s without Danny Parish up top with Alex Akrofi and Johan ter Horst coming back from injury.

“Competition is good. I’m not being funny but if you haven’t got competition, you can get complacent.

“Everyone knows they’ve got people breathing down their neck.

“One bad day and you might be out of the team, so you need to be on it.”

Ramadan was an unused substitute as Ashford, having led 1-0 and 2-1, lost 3-2 to Beckenham in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Tom Carlse restored the lead after Robert Carter’s own goal was cancelled out but Ashford couldn’t hold on.

The tie was played at Chatham’s Maidstone Road ground, with Ashford’s new 3G pitch at Homelands still under construction.

They were back at Chatham on Tuesday night, where Danny Parish and a last-minute own goal from Jahmal Howlett-Mundle secured the points against Sevenoaks.

There’s no game on Saturday, with Ashford next in action at Hythe Town on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).