FA suspend Ashford Town over unpaid loan fees

Lovell's side kick-off the new Ryman League season on 21 August

The Football Association has suspended Ryman South side Ashford Town from all football with immediate effect.

The action has been taken because the club has failed to pay more than £2,000 in loan fees to Ebbsfleet United for Jamie Forshaw and Steven Springett.

It means that until the money is paid they cannot play any friendly matches.

But manager Steve Lovell told BBC Radio Kent: "I'm not very worried, I'm sure something will be sorted out and we can carry on with the job in hand."

He added: "You've got to have faith and trust in the people who are working at the football club, which I have, so you don't tend to worry about it.

We're not going to change our outlook on things and I'm sure the people off the field will get the other side sorted

Steve Lovell

"They know what they're doing. Everybody knows the situation, they know what the next plan is and hopefully, and it will happen, everything will be sorted out.

"I've got to continue with the on-field problems and get players in ready for next year and get pre-season underway by making sure everybody's fit.

"We'll continue doing that - we're not going to change our outlook on things and I'm sure the people off the field will get the other side sorted."

An FA spokesman told BBC Radio Kent: "Ashford Town were initially put under a registrations embargo due to their failure to pay money owed to two clubs for loan players.

"This was subsequently extended to a suspension from all football on 18 June. The suspension and embargo will be both lifted as soon as the debts are paid."

Ashford's first pre-season game scheduled to be at Folkestone on 27 July.