Danny Kedwell knows his Ashford United players are at the club for the right reasons.
The Nuts & Bolts have made some stellar signings this summer and the manager reckons that will set tongues wagging about budgets.
But the fact he’s attracted the likes of Lee Martin, Mitchell Beeney, Craig Stone, James Dunne and Gary Lockyer is nothing to do with money.
Kedwell, who was named Ashford boss in May, said: “People see the signings we’ve made and probably think we’ve got a massive budget but it’s the same as last year.
“The players have just bought into the new project and they’ve trusted in me.
“The owners haven’t chucked massive money at it.
“It’s never been about money with the players I’ve brought in.
“They were more interested in the project and wanting to play for me.
“They actually wanted to come and play for us.
“It wasn’t, ‘What are you giving me?’ It was quite surprising really.
“We’re just going on with our business quietly and we’ll see where we are.
“I’ve built a great squad but you never know what you’re going to get.
“You can have a great squad and it doesn’t work, so we’ve got to make sure it works.”
Goalkeeper Beeney rejected interest elsewhere to sign for Ashford after working with Kedwell at Chatham last season.
He was swiftly followed through the door by playmaker Martin having left fellow Isthmian South East club Ramsgate.
Kedwell hopes his transfer business is done but, with the nature of non-league football, never say never.
“I don’t think you can ever say you’re done,” said Kedwell.
“You never know what comes up.
“Obviously a lot of people aren’t on contract and teams could come in for them.
“You just never know, so you can never say you’re done until the first game of the season but not even then
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