Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow was bemused by trialist no-shows at the weekend.

Of the 14 trialists due at the Nuts & Bolts’ opening pre-season training session on Saturday, six didn’t turn up.

Four were being sent by one agent and two by another but there were no explanations.

“It makes me laugh,” said Warrilow. “One bloke didn’t stop pestering me to look at these players, he was sending four and another bloke was sending two, and none of them showed up.

“That’s not on, you don’t do that. All it takes is a phone call or a message to say sorry, something else has come up, just to let you know what’s going on.

“It didn’t matter, because we still had enough people there, but it makes me laugh when people pester you and you go, ‘OK, all right, come along’ and then they’re no-shows.”

Warrilow isn’t one to take things personally but he will tell people if he feels they’re in the wrong.

He added: “I never make it personal but I let them know you can’t conduct yourself like that.

“Treat people how you want to be treated yourself.

“If a last-minute opportunity comes up, fine, I understand that, but when people spin you a yarn and want to come down and then don’t show up, that’s not right.

“You’re telling them for their own good because if they want to push on in football, it’s not the way to go about things because names get bandied around and people talk and you don’t want to get a reputation.

“In pre-season I think the respect thing goes out the window a bit with the way some of the boys treat clubs and managers.”

Ashford host Potters Bar in their first friendly on Saturday (3pm) and welcome Eastbourne United to Homelands on Tuesday (7.45pm).

While Warrilow has been looking to strengthen midfield, he’s happy with his forward line.

Jay May’s retirement left a big hole but with Gary Lockyer, Luke Burdon and Johan ter Horst agreeing new deals, and Michael Uwezu joining from Burgess Hill, Ashford have good options in attack.

“If something comes up that will improve us, we’ll look at it, but I’m happy with the four I’ve got,” said Warrilow.

“It’s a good four and they should score goals at this level.

“I’m hoping Johan can stay fit. In pre-season last year he looked sharp, I thought, ‘brilliant’, and then, bang, his hamstring went.

“We played him out wide in a three, we played him in midfield as well, he just does his job, but then his hamstring went again.

“That’s his game, pace and that, so I’m really hoping he steers clear of injury.

“His attitude trying to get back for the play-offs was brilliant, he worked so hard and did all the right things to be available for the semi-finals and final, and he’s a great one for the changing room.”