Frustrated Ashford Town boss Mark Butler will ask chairman Bob Parker this week if he can spare any transfer cash, writes John Whitbread.

Ashford's slip from the top of the Ryman Premier table at the end of September to a middling 11th this week has Butler admitting he needs to bring in two or three players to freshen things up.

The only snag is the Tangerines' manager is not sure who to buy - even if he does get Parker's go-ahead to open the Short Lane war chest.

He said: "My main worry is not being able to pinpoint what I need to change. If it was one problem position you could spot it and take steps to solve it.

"What I am getting is dips in form from different players at different times, and it is so frustrating."

But with money tight at the Ryman Premier club, Butler fears he may see the exit door swing open for one of his throng just as a new man arrives.

He said: "It may mean we have to ship someone out to get someone in. But I don't want to do that unless I am forced to, because I really like the group of boys I have here.

"Wes Goggin and Russell Canderton have left of their own accord not replaced, so I think I have a little room for manoeuvre."

There was a time in December when Ashford's erratic form didn't bother their boss unduly.

But after Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to lowly Hendon, even Butts hasn't got a brush big enough to paper over the cracks.

He added: "There is a little bit of doom-and-gloom around the club at the moment and I think we have got a bit stale.

"Winning was a nice habit at the start of the season, but now losing has started to be something of a disease that we need to cure as quickly as possible."

* STAINES TOWN must win at least 17 of their last 22 games if they are to pip runaway leaders Dover Athletic for the Ryman Premier title.

So reckons Swans boss Steve Cordery,whose side's postponement at Harrow Borough on Saturday allowed the big-spending Kent outfit to open up a massive 20 points gap at the top.

Staines have four games in hand, but while Cordery refuses to wave the white flag with half the season still to go,he accepts it will take a mighty effort to overtake the odds-on favourites.

He said: "The way Dover are going at the moment they are in line to break the ton mark, and I certainly believe we will have to total around 95 points to stand a chance."

However, Cordery insists he has 'a gut feeling' there could still be a major twist in the tale.

"It's very rare for any team to go through a whole season without a blip of some sort, and Dover must be due one soon," he said.

"It could be that Andy Hessenthaler takes one of the Football League jobs he has been linked with, or Frannie Colin gets snapped up in the transfer window.

"I know it's all ifs and buts, but we have to keep believing.We owe it to our fans to try and win every game to the end of the season."