Alan Walker will use his spell as interim Ashford manager to look at the club’s young players.

Walker is holding the reins until the end of the season while the sale to new owners goes through.

And with the Nuts & Bolts safe in mid-table in Isthmian South East, the ex-Maidstone boss is looking to the future.

His remit involves assessing the current squad while also looking at those coming through the youth ranks.

“I’m only in charge temporarily,” said Walker, the former Millwall and Gillingham centre-half.

“I’m doing it as a favour for the new owners and for Don (Crosbie, outgoing owner) who asked me to help him out.

“I’m steering the ship until the end of the season, then a new manager will take over.

“The new owners aren’t going to be chucking stupid money at it.

“They’re going to make sure they do it properly and build a solid base to maximise the club’s potential, which is huge.

“I’m focusing on the youth set-up and getting better links to the first team.

“That means kids coming from Ashford will hopefully get to the first team, which helps your budget and it helps the fact they’ve got an allegiance to the club.

“Results don’t matter at the moment because we can’t go up and we can’t go down.

“Obviously we want to win games but what we’re doing at the moment is looking at players we’ve already got there, and a few others, to see if they’re going to be with us next season, and there’s going to be a lot of young players in the next few games.”

The full-back spots are up for grabs following the departure of long-serving duo Bradley Simms and Tariq Ossai.

They decided to leave after five years with the club, joining ex-Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow at Faversham.

“It was their choice, totally,” said Walker.

“It’s football and there’s no hard feelings - I wish them both luck.

“They’re gone now and what it does is give us a chance to blood a couple of youngsters.”

Ashford have signed first-year pros Josh Bayliss and Stanley Skipper on loan from Gillingham.

The pair made their debuts from the bench in a 3-2 defeat at Three Bridges on Saturday, while Ian Draycott and Max Walsh scored the visitors’ goals.

Fellow youngsters Oliver McDonald and Todd Brand - brother of Ashford midfielder Harvey - are also on board.

Walker has also added an experienced player to boost the squad in former Sheppey midfielder Maliq Morris.

“We’ll get by,” said Walker.

“We do want to win games but it’s all about next year, giving lads the chance to show what they’ve got, to see whether they’re going to be with us on the journey.”

Walker, 64, is back in the dugout for the first time since leaving Maidstone in 2010.

He broke his neck in a freak accident while on a coaching course in Northern Ireland three years earlier, an injury that restricted his mobility and ultimately led to him stepping back from management.

“It’s great to be back in the dugout,” said Walker.

“Obviously, because of my disability, when I broke my neck, I can’t get on the pitch as much as I’d like and I haven’t got the strength to be shouting stuff.

“But I’ve got Darren Hare with me and you can’t get anyone better than Darren in this league for a coach and a No.2.

“He’s absolutely brilliant. Officially I’m in charge but Darren does a massive amount and so does Paul Murray, who’s also working with us.

“I personally haven’t got the energy to be a (permanent) manager any more because of my injury.

“Otherwise, I’d probably still be doing it.

“I wouldn’t have left Maidstone when I did but I was finding the workload too much.

“When you break your neck and you’ve got nerve damage that affects your body it’s very difficult but I’m still enjoying it. It’s fantastic.

“It’s good to be around a football club and I’m going to be a big part of it going forward, if and when the new lads take over, but it won’t be with the first team.

“I’ll always be there for support if anyone needs me but I’ll be concentrating on the links with the community and the youngsters.”

Ashford visit Sevenoaks on Good Friday, with keeper Chris Lewington a doubt, and host Herne Bay on Monday (both 3pm).

Bay are managed by Steve Lovell, Walker’s former team-mate at Millwall, Gillingham and Barnet.

He also signed for Lovell at Sittingbourne and succeeded him as manager when the Welshman moved to Gravesend.

“It’ll be great to see Lovers,” said Walker. “We’re still very good mates. We used to be massive golfing buddies, too.”