Ashford sign up ex-Chelsea winger
COMPARING Ashford United, visitors to Footes Lane tomorrow, to GFC is another story of the Bostik South East haves and have-nots.
While GFC live off home produce, highly-ambitious Ashford appear to regurgitate first-team players at a remarkable rate.
Manager Gary Alexander, once of West Ham United and a good enough player to warrant a £300,000 transfer fee when Swindon Town signed him in July 2000, has been pulling in new players by the week.
Winger Lanre Azeez, who scored eight goals in 38 appearances last season for Whyteleafe, was highly sought after but Alexander got his man ahead of a season in which promotion is a No. 1 target. He made his debut last weekend and scored.
‘I am delighted to finally get Lanre over the line. He is a player that we pinpointed last season with his eye catching display and he will add real quality to our squad and I’m sure Nuts and Bolts fans will grow to love him,’ said the new coach.
Also on the scoresheet was Ambrose Gnahore, 22, an ex Chelsea winger who has recently played at Farnborough and Kingstonian.
Then there is the case of the Italian centre half Antonio Simeone, another of eight new recruits for a season which Alexander’s men opened with a comfortable 3-1 win over local rivals Hythe Town.
The recent Bostik League fans’ poll had the Nuts and Bolts finishing fifth and they promise much since Alexander’s upgrade to first-team boss, having served as assistant manager when he joined in January.
Alexander will know plenty about GFC and he was in the dugout when Ashford gained a 1-1 draw back at the end of January. On that occasion GFC required a late Keanu Marsh goal to deny the visitors.
