New Ashford United coach Tommy Osborne on Ian Draycott’s move to Homelands

New Ashford United coach Tommy Osborne feels they can get a good couple of years out of latest signing Ian Draycott.

Draycott has joined the Nuts & Bolts after nine years at Folkestone, where 150 goals in 361 appearances made him the club’s record scorer.

He’s just turned 35 but the former Maidstone forward remains a class act and can be a big influence at Homelands.

Osborne played with Draycott at Maidstone, winning promotion via the Isthmian South East play-offs together a decade ago.

“Draycs left Maidstone and went on and did fantastically at Folkestone, and he’s still going now,” said Osborne, who joined Kevin Watson’s management team last week after leaving Cray Valley.

“All credit to him and hopefully he can have another couple of seasons as well, with a bit of luck.

“It’s funny because I hadn’t seen him for a long time and then we played in Alex Flisher’s testimonial at Maidstone, when I was still Cray manager.

“When I agreed to go to Ashford last last week, they had pretty much done the deal for Draycs. It wasn’t quite over the line but it was on the cards.

“So I didn’t see him for all that time, then I saw him at the testimonial and now I’m going to be involved in the same squad as him.

“It’s funny how football works sometimes.

“He hasn’t got an ounce of fat on him. If you look after yourself, nowadays you can play into mid-30s.

“Draycs has got to look for another couple of seasons.

“It does get harder, there’s no doubt about it, but it can be done.

“When you’re younger, you play 40-plus games.

“When you get to your mid-30s, it might be more like 25 games, or just over, but I still think you can have a positive impact.”

Draycott also offers Ashford an option in midfield, having been used in a deeper role at