Walker vows to resurrect Sleeping Giant - EXCLUSIVE

New Ashford Town manager Clive Walker is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding new signings - but vows to bring glory back to the success-starved club, writes Stephen McCartney.

Leicester-born Walker took over The Homelands hot-seat just four days ago, and is currently speaking to players and sorting out his back-room staff before going public with names.

But one player’s future has already been secured, and that was yesterday, when Simon Glover rejected a move to Blue Square Southern outfit Bromley to stay with the revitalised Ryman League Division One South club.

And Medway-based Walker, speaking in his first EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk  as Ashford Town’s boss did reveal that last season’s squad will be given a chance to impress.

He said: “There’s quite a few, not bad, a lot of young players - they deserve a chance. They finished the season well, so we’ll have to see.”

Walker is relishing the opportunity in turning around the club’s fortunes, in what promises to be one of the most exciting season for a few years.

And the former Dover Athletic boss was impressed with the club’s ambitious plans.

“Well, they’ve put the place over well to be honest,” he said. “They’ve got new people in there and they’re looking to go ahead - it’s a good opportunity for me really.

Walker revealed that he’s hoping to be working with a squad of up to twenty players and is expecting to name his back-room staff “in the next week or so.”

But he didn’t want to comment on the speculation concerning Dover Athletic players joining him at Ashford.

But he did explain what his aims are for next season - and longer-term.

“To get as many wins as we can, simple as that really,” he said. “To get a team bedded in to see what we need and how far we can go.

“Obviously our long-term is to get out of the league’s as quickly as we can.

“It takes different types of players at different types of levels and it’s just getting the balance right - hopefully we can go forward and upwards.”

And Walker vows to bring the crowds back flocking through the turnstiles.

“It’s a big town. I can remember years ago, when I was at Maidstone, they can get a big gate and hopefully we can resurrect that now.

“It’s a sleeping giant, a good place and it’s got a good history to the club.”

Walker, meanwhile, asks fans to be patient regarding transfer news, adding: “I haven’t met a lot of the (current Ashford) players and staff.

“I am talking to players now but until things are settled and on paper, I don’t want to say (about players joining the club), but I am talking to players now.”

Visit Ashford Town’s website: www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk