by Luke Cawdell

Former Ashford Town chairman Ernie Warren insisted he was "100 per cent confident" the club would be playing football again next season after helping to form a new committee.

A seven-person board has been pulled together by Mr Warren following an invitation by owner Tony Betteridge to help re-start the club from scratch.

The main role left unfulfilled so far is that of chairman and it will be Mr Warren’s job to identify the suitable person. That position could be filled within the coming days.

Mr Warren said: "I’m here for football reasons only and my motive is to get Ashford back playing football.

"We’re going back to grass roots. It’s local people running their local club and hopefully with local players playing for it. At the moment things are looking good."

The new committee has been set up on the eve of what would have been the 80th anniversary of the old Ashford Town, formed in August 1930.

Mr Warren guided the Nuts and Bolts to some special moments, particularly in the mid-90s with Neil Cugley as manager, including an FA Cup game at home to Fulham at Homelands (pictured), screened by Sky TV and a clash with Watford a year later.

He has no interest in becoming chairman again, however, saying: "I’m here to help set things up and make sure they happen. I’m definitely not going to be the chairman."

Once everything is in place, Mr Warren will act as a trustee on the committee.

"Football will definitely be played in Ashford next year. I’m 100 per cent confident in that," he added.

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