Ashford United manager Craig Stone says defender Barry Fuller, 41, can play for another five years

Ashford United manager Craig Stone is backing veteran defender Barry Fuller to play on for another five years.

Fuller, who turns 42 in September, was outstanding again at the weekend as the Nuts & Bolts beat Eastbourne Town 2-1 in Isthmian South East.

The former Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon right-back plays in central defence these days and continues to defy his age.

“There’s been a couple of times when I could have moved him to right-back but he’s too good at centre-back,” said Stone, who takes Ashford to Herne Bay this Saturday (3pm).

“He’s just outstanding. He covers most of the backline where he’s still so quick and, obviously, he’s a really fit boy.

“Whenever we look in a bit of danger, his emergency defending is different class.

“He made a tackle on Saturday where you think the lad is six yards out and he’s probably going to get a shot on target and there’s a high possibility he’ll score.

“But he just throws himself from absolutely nowhere and puts an unreal block in.

“Barry Fuller’s had praise from bigger and better managers than me but he’s been unreal.

“He’s someone I can lean on as well and ask questions to but also the way he trains and the way he performs, it makes it easy for me to refer back to all the time.

“People might think he’s old but he’s comfortably got another five years left in him.

“He’s not even close to slowing down in any sense of the word. He’s nowhere near it.”

Fuller joined his hometown club, initially on loan, from Dorking Wanderers last season.

The deal was made permanent over the summer and Fuller, a central figure in the club’s academy set-up, continues to enjoy his football.

Stone said: “He doesn’t say he’s got any plans to stop and I’m not going to let him retire. There’s no way. He’s