Ashford United manager Lloyd Hume says son Harrison Hume at an ‘unfair disadvantage’ when it comes to getting in the starting XI

There will be no favours from Ashford manager Lloyd Hume when it comes to playing his son next season.

Quite the opposite, in fact, as the Nuts & Bolts boss says Harrison Hume is at an “unfair disadvantage” compared to his team-mates.

The midfielder, who played under his dad at Rochester, knows he’ll have to work extra-hard to force his way into Ashford’s starting XI.

“For me, I’m the opposite of some managers with kids,” said Lloyd.

“He’s a good player but he’ll have an unfair disadvantage with me as manager.

“He’s going to have to be 10-15 per cent better than the person he’s playing in front of or he won’t play.

“That’s not really fair but that’s how it is and I’ve been very honest with him about that and that’s where he had to decide whether he wanted to be part of it.

“At the moment, he’s one of five people competing for three spaces.

“He knows he’s going to be at a disadvantage and he’s prepared to live with that.

“That just means he’s going to have to work harder, which is good for the club.

“Some people look and go is he only there because of his dad?

“It’s actually the complete opposite, and that’s what I’m saying.

“He’d get a fairer crack of the whip somewhere else than he will from me but he’s played with me before, I’ve managed his teams before, and he knows what I’m about.

“If I feel at any point there’s a decision to make and I’m debating between him and another player who should play, even if I’m entering that debate, it means he won’t play, because it means there’s a doubt in my mind and ultimately I can’t be seen to have someone as a favourite in my dressing room.”

Hume has called on Ashford players to earn their place in the starting XI for the new Isthmian South East season.

He addressed the squad