Ashford United boss Tommy Warrilow won't be rushing to judge his team ahead of Isthmian South East opener at Burgess Hill Town

Ashford manager Tommy Warrilow won’t be rushing to judge how he thinks they’ll fare this season.

The Nuts & Bolts have lost strikers Luke Burdon and Gary Lockyer and are light on attacking options. However, versatile forward Stephen Okoh and full-back Jamal Ossai - brother of Tariq Ossai - have signed after successful trials.

Warrilow’s team have had injuries, too, but he hopes to welcome some of his sidelined troops back for Saturday’s Isthmian South East opener at Burgess Hill.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. We have lost a lot of players from last year, we have lost a lot of goals, and we have got to replace that,” admitted Warrilow, after they ended pre-season with a 4-2 defeat at Folkestone on Sunday.

“We are not a million miles away but we know the areas we have got to strengthen.

"If those players are not around at the moment, we have just got to get on with it.

“It’s my sword I fall on but I can’t do anything about people not being here. I can’t not let people go on holiday - these are non-league footballers - the timing is ridiculous because they’ve all gone and we have got three injuries.

“Once they’re back, I’m pretty sure we will be a lot stronger and I’m looking to bring in some people.

"I’m not going to judge it even after the first, second or third game. So what?

“You have to get on with it, not get carried away, and wait until Christmas time or January.

"We want to be up there, obviously, but I’m positive going into it.”

Ashford do have options in goal, though, where Jordan Carey and Jacob Russell are vying for the No.1 jersey.

Warrilow said: “I told Jordan it’s a horrible decision that I have got to make but I have got to make a decision. That’s what you want, I want that all around the pitch.

“There was no