Kentish Express Ashford & District
HOMELANDS BY AT LEAST TWO
Danny Lye is set to reduce numbers at Homelands with just over a week to go before the start of the new season.
The Ashford United playerboss plans to inform at least two players they don’t feature in his plans, in the next couple of days.
He said: “I have to let a couple go and let them know imminently, so as to give them a chance of finding a new club.”
Lye admitted Tuesday’s 3-2 home defeat by Hythe was United’s most competitive workout as he continues to analyse and tinker with formations and personnel ahead of a home FA Cup extra preliminary round match against Southern Counties East League Premier Division rivals Corinthian on Saturday week.
He described the decision to make the tie the season’s opener as “stupid, but it is what it is.”
He said: “I never worry about things I can’t alter but I don’t think the FA help clubs like us at grassroots level with things like this.”
He added: “There were some good performances against Hythe. Tom Michelson is looking good, Stuart West and Pat Kingwell had a full game together at centre-back, with Charlie Dickens and Luke Cuthbert also able to play there.
“Chris Elliott played 60 minutes against Kennington at the weekend and came off the bench against Hythe but he still needs fitness and games after being out for six months with a serious knee injury
Lye added: “Taser Hassan is another in a similar position and I am not going to make exceptions.”
West, Kingwell, Michelson and Ryan Palmer are all unavailable for the trip to Ryman League Division 1 South side Herne Bay on Saturday. Bay are set to include two former United players, Stuart Zanone and Darren Marsden in their squad.
Another new signing, striker Brett Ince (ankle) is the main injury worry for Ashford
United, last season’s beaten finalists, will start their Kent Senior Trophy campaign with a trip to SCEL Division 1 side Sutton Athletic.
The tie takes place at Hextable near Dartford in October.
United visit Lydd in their final pre-season run-out next Tuesday (7.45pm).
‘I have to let them know to give them a chance of finding a new club’