WITHAM Town manager Mark Ashford is confident that he has a squad of players who want to be at the club for the right reasons.

Ashford is finalising his preparations for his first Bostik League division north campaign in charge of Witham after taking the reins following the departure of Adam Flint at the end of last season.

The team have enjoyed a productive pre-season programme that is set to continue with trips to Whitton United on Saturday and Enfield FC on Tuesday and Ashford is happy that he has assembled a squad who want to be with Witham to progress their footballing careers.

"The players that we've brought in have taken us pretty close to where we want to be," said Ashford.

"I have got a good track record with the way I work and how I treat people and I think that's important.

"There are a lot of people who don't realise how much footballers want to be treated the right way - with respect.

"As a result of that and if you're like that over the years, there are players who will want to play for you even if you don't have the money that other people have.

"Some of the lads who we've brought in have been offered double what we can and one had an offer that was four times what we could afford, but he turned that down because he thought with us was where he felt his career could progress best.

"When we get everyone back from holidays, we'll be strong and we're not far from getting that.

"Once we have everyone, it will be a case of whittling it down to 18 or 19 in the squad over the next couple of weeks ahead of the first game."