Ashford are taking no chances with returning striker Danny Parish.

The Nuts & Bolts know they have a big asset on their hands and have put him on contract to prevent any cheeky seven-day approaches.

He’s signed a deal until the end of the season and could be the final piece of the puzzle in their Isthmian South East promotion bid.

Parish scored 25 goals in the 2018/19 season as Ashford reached the play-off final before joining Maldon & Tiptree.

He was later snapped up by National League Wealdstone and started this season at Isthmian Premier outfit Canvey Island.

But the 24-year-old was out of favour and Ashford made their move.

Manager Tommy Warrilow is determined to get the best out of the forward, who made his second debut for the club in a 1-0 home defeat by VCD last Saturday.

“Danny signing has given us a massive lift,” he said. “He’s one who’s been on our radar.

“I knew he wasn’t playing at Canvey and it went from there.

“There’s no pressure on him coming here. He’s got nothing to prove to anyone.

“We know what he’s capable of and we’ve put him on contract till the end of the season.

“If he comes in and scores hat-trick, hat-trick, hat-trick, then brilliant.

“We can help him out and he can help us out.

“If we get to the end of the season and he’s been banging in goals, we’ll try and keep him but I’m sure there’ll be a scramble for his signature. We need to get him right first.

“He’s not been playing regularly at Canvey. I’ve not seen him play for them so I don’t know the reasons why.

“He was on contract there but they’ve made a decision which might not have gone down well with some of their supporters, the same as some decisions I make don’t go down well with my supporters.

“All I know is he’s our player, he’s only just turned 24, so he’s a great age, and we want to get him doing what he does best.

“He played on Saturday and you could see he was a bit rusty.

“He was drifting into wide areas - which might be what he’s been told to do - but I don’t want him down the channels, I want him in the middle getting in behind defenders.”

Ashford play their final Isthmian South East game before Christmas at Lancing this Saturday (2pm).

They travel without midfielders Omarr Lawson and Adem Ramadan, who were released after the VCD game, a week on from Josh Wisson’s departure.

“It’s nothing to do with budgets, it’s just football,” said Warrilow.

“We’ve got Lanre Azeez and Johan ter Horst coming back and without them we had 19 players, so we’ve got to reduce the squad.

“They’re good lads. I had a good chat with them and explained my reasons.

“I’m not bringing in another midfielder, I’m not jiggling things around, I just can’t have two players sitting in the stand.

“Everyone’s had their chances.

“Whether it’s the right two to let go, football is about opinions. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion.

“There’s loads of football to play and I’m sure I’ll make more decisions that won’t please everyone.

“I like to think I know what I’m doing.”