Kentish Express Ashford & District
Friendship helps Lye retain duo
Preview to the club cricket season
Danny Lye says his long-standing friendship with Shaun Welford and Micky Phillips has helped keep them at Ashford United on reduced terms.
The Homelands player-manager is working with a reduced budget as United continue their legal battle to reclaim ownership of the Kingsnorth Ground. Assistant-manager Welford and skipper Phillips are two of nine players who have already committed for next season.
Lye said “I have known them a long time and both have agreed significant pay cuts to stay.
“At this stage of their careers, they want to be in a dressing room with players they know and have some fun.”
Lye is “99% certain” that player-coach Paul Booth will stay but knows he has had a few offers from elsewhere and is also waiting to hear whether brothers Adam and Luke Cuthbert are returning.
The two defenders are now the club’s longest-serving players after joining the club in August 2012, with Luke making a total of 159 appearances, 12 more than Adam.
Lye has also offered deals to 15-goal midfielder Ryan Palmer and goalkeeper George Kamurasi but knows they will both be targets for other clubs.
He added: “I am looking to bring in three more players minimum but talking to six or seven at the moment.”
Mitch Mannell, scorer of 14 goals for the reserves this season, will join the squad for pre-season training.
Lye confirmed the club are pulling the reserves out of the Kent County League next season, citing the need to keep costs at a minimum as the reason.
Pat Kingwell won three awards at the club’s end-of season presentation night at Sandyacres on Saturday.
The defender was named supporters’, supporters’ club and players’ player-of-theyear.
Mikey Dalton won the supporters’ vote as most improved player, while 37-goal top scorer Shaun Welford won the Golden Boot award.
Kamurasi was named manager’s playerof-the-year, while Charlie Dickens took the young player award.
The Mary Hallybone special performance award went to Lye for his leadership and performance in the FA Vase, fifth round replay win at Dunston FC.
A special award was also made to chief executive Denise Peach, for her “outstanding commitment and hard work.”
Supporters’ player-of-the-year: Mitchell Barrett; players’ player-of-the-year: Harry Lavender; manager’s player-of-the-year: Matt Kirby; top scorer: Callum Howard; most improved player: Tom Bugden; goal-of-the-season: Luke Eldridge.