Jason Whitmore has five games left in charge of Ashford United and admits he will miss management when he steps down at the end of the season.

Whitmore replaced Danny Lye back in August and has overseen a turbulent campaign in Bostik South for the newly-promoted Nuts & Bolts.

They’ve spent the whole season in the bottom six but Whitmore has enjoyed the ride.

“Of course I’ll miss it,” he said. “We have had a tough season for me.

“I’ve come in from youth football to a first team which needed completely overhauling and restructuring in order to lay foundations for the next two or three years.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs, especially downs at the beginning with the fans’ unrest but that’s all turned around.

“When Gary Alexander takes over in the summer, it will be in a lot better shape and I’m extremely proud of that.

“Look at social media and how the fans react to the way the boys are playing.

“I will miss it, 100% but I’ll still be part of it and that’s key to me. I’ll be in touch with Gary on a daily basis looking at the future and what we’ve got.

“He’s the one steering the ship at the front but we’ll certainly help him from the back.”

Ashford recorded only their eighth league win of the season on Easter Monday, beating Faversham 3-1 at Homelands on the club’s Community Day.

“It was fantastic,” said Whitmore. “There were 478 who paid and to me, it looked like more. The whole stand and the two ends were busy and the fans got what they wanted.

“The second-half performance was very good so it turned out to be a very good day for the club.

“There were people there for the first time, friends, neighbours and they loved it. It was non-league football at its best - a family community club.”

Three of Ashford’s last five games are away, starting with Saturday’s trip to eighth-placed Whyteleafe. It’s been a good season for the Surrey side but they’re unlikely now to close an 11-point gap to the play-offs.

Whitmore: “We drew with them earlier in the season and were unlucky not to win.

“The teams from sixth down are not much different. Hythe are seventh and we were 3-0 up against them.

“The players might think there’s nothing to play for but every single one of them is playing for their future. Who wants to be here and come on this journey?

“Can we be an in-form team going into pre-season? That is what we really want.

“Gary will be able to pick up on that and he’ll have some tough decisions rather than easy decisions if players do not give the desire, heart and commitment we expect and demand.”

Matt Day (ankle) is still out but otherwise Whitmore has a full-fit squad to pick from.