NEW Witham Town manager Mark Ashford has repeated his commitment to give youth its head at the club and he has been pleased to see some younger members of the squad agreeing terms to stay on this year.

Ashford took his first game in charge when they headed to Thurlow Nunn League premier division side Haverhill Borough for an opening pre-season fixture on Friday night and he has been busy building his squad ahead of the start of the Bostik League division north season.

He admitted that a new goalkeeper is one position that he is still looking to fill after the departure of Bobby Mason to link up with former Witham boss Adam Flint at premier division side Bishop's Stortford.
However, Ashford said he was pleased with the players who he had got in so far and was happy to have players on board who had emerged through Witham's youth and reserve structures.

"We're talking with people and the goalkeeper is an obvious spot I'm looking to fill," said the Witham boss.

"The rest of the team, though, I'm really happy with the look of and I'm confident that we will have an exciting team this year.

"We have kept the nucleus of the team from last year and I'm very excited that I'll be working with young players like Jack Kemsley and Liam Whipps who have come up through the club's youth system.

"I've committed to them that they will be given serious chances in the first team this season and that's really exciting to see players like that coming into the Witham team as they are the future of the club.
"All-in-all, I'm very happy with the strides forward we have made.

"I'm still talking with two or three as I would like to have a squad of about 19 to 20 in total.

"We have 13 to 14 who have committed so far so things are shaping up nicely and I'm feeling very positive."
Simon Spurgeon