Danny Kedwell has landed his No.1 transfer target after bringing Gary Lockyer back to Ashford.
The prolific striker returns to Homelands after a season away in which he appeared for Faversham and Cray Wanderers.
Nuts & Bolts boss Kedwell faced competition but Lockyer, 31, wanted to rejoin his hometown club.
“It’s good to have him back,” said Kedwell.
“He scores goals and is a good presence.
“He tells me he’s got unfinished business here.
“To be honest, I didn’t think I’d get him over the line because he had other clubs after him again.
“He’ll be a very good signing for us and it adds to that core I’ve been talking about, that experience down the middle.
“Being a local lad, he wants to get the goals record and the appearance record as well.
“When we spoke he wanted a week to think about it and then he came back and said he wanted to sign.
“He was my No.1 target and to get your No.1 target on your first go is good.”
Kedwell sees a lot of himself in Lockyer, both in the way he plays and the pull of signing for his hometown club.
It was a position he found himself in when he left AFC Wimbledon for Gillingham in 2011.
“He’s had a good season at Cray,” said Kedwell.
“I played against him last season when I was at Chatham and I thought he was magnificent.
“He was their best player.
“I liked his hold-up play, he was coming deep and getting on the ball and bringing others into play.
“It’s what I used to do and it was good to watch.
“When a player says he’s got unfinished business, it’s brilliant for a manager to hear that.
“It reminded me a bit of when I was at Wimbledon.
“I would never have left there for any club other than Gillingham.
“It was my local club, it was on my doorstep and you’ve got to take all those things into consideration.
“I went there and won the league with Gillingham, which was a massive achievement.
“I don’t know when Ashford last won a league - it’s years ago - but to hear the way Gary was talking, it just reminded me of when I signed for Gillingham.”
Lockyer’s signing follows the arrival of fellow forward Louis Collins.
The 22-year-old, who counts Scunthorpe among his former clubs, has joined from Isthmian Premier Folkestone.
“He can play as a No.10 or up front, so we’ve got a bit of variety there,” said Kedwell.
“He’s got lot of ability and is another very good signing.
“He’s still young, he just needs to settle down.
“Once he settled, it’ll be a different ball game for him.”
