Adem Ramadan has a big support network around him as he begins the long road to recovery from a double leg break.

Ashford midfielder Ramadan, 27, suffered the injury during the second half of their Kent derby at Hythe on Monday, and is set to undergo surgery.

He’s been inundated with messages from well-wishers, while his club, along with friends and family, have rallied round.

A gofundme page has also been set up by fans to help Ramadan, a self-employed electrician, while he’s unable to work.

It raised £1,000 in a matter of hours and is well on the way to its £4,000 target. You can donate by clicking here.

“He’s coming to terms with what’s happened,” said Ashford manager Kevin Watson, who brought Ramadan back to Homelands this summer.

“He wants to get it sorted in the sense we expect they’ll have to operate, so the sooner that happens, he can start his recovery.

“He’s a lovely guy and it’s testament to him the number of messages he’s had from the football community.

“We as a management team haven’t been working with him that long but even in that short time he’s made his mark.

“We’re gutted and so disappointed for him because he’d worked incredibly hard to get fit and back to a really good standard of football. What’s happened has happened and we’ve just got to look forward and support him.

“I always say in the short period of time after these events, you get lots of messages.

“But it’s maybe a couple of months down the line, the phone doesn’t ring as much and that’s probably where he needs support from those closest to him the most.

“He’s a genuinely lovely person and I think that’s shown.

“I wish people liked me as much as they like him!

“He’s an absolute diamond of a lad, really enthusiastic and he loves his football.

“He’s a really grounded person with a lovely family. I met his parents at the hospital on Monday and his dad on Tuesday when I went round to see him.

“It’s not the circumstances I wanted to sit down and have a chat with them but they’re lovely people.

“He’s obviously got a really close friendship group.

“Our players, Tariq Ossai, Ben Gorham and Bradley Simms, were with him at the hospital on Monday night and he’s got some really close mates.

“He’s unfortunate but at the same time fortunate to have people that care so much and are there for him.

“As soon as he’s up and moving, we want him around the club and being a part of the team and the club even while he’s unable to play.”

Watson has experience of helping players through serious injuries.

He was manager at Herne Bay last season when young Kymani Thomas suffered a double leg break.

He had surgery in February and is now training with Ashford.

“Adam (Flanagan, assistant boss) and I kept in touch with him and he’s been training with us,” said Watson.

“He was one of the first people I got a message from asking for Adem’s number, so he could reach out to him.

“He’s a young lad, who only knows Adem through coming training with us, but he felt he could give him support, and Adem mentioned that when I went to see him.

“Non-league football gets good and bad publicity but that’s the nice, humane side of it when you talk about the way people are treated. There are friendships and relationships and support.”

The Isthmian South East game at Hythe was abandoned, with the score 0-0.

Watson was quick to thank the hosts’ medical team and management for their assistance, releasing a statement on Ashford’s website after the game.

The injury was a pure accident.

“There’s no blame or bitterness on Adem’s part towards anybody or anything,” said Watson.

“It was an accident. The game wasn’t played with any malice from either team.

“Hythe conducted themselves really well.

“They left the decision to us in terms of whether we wanted to play on and we liaised with the officials.

“There’s no grievance from Adem or anybody else.

“It’s just one of those things that happens.”

With both sides out of the FA Cup, Ashford are in Kent Senior Cup first-round action at Sittingbourne tomorrow (3pm).

Watson, speaking on Tuesday evening, said: “In the last 24 hours we haven’t thought too much about prep for that but we will do and Adem would want us to.”