CAMPION’S joint-manager Lee Ashforth said he is sending best wishes to club president Dominic Matteo, as the former Leeds United defender recovers from surgery on a brain tumour last month.

He also lauded the influence that former Premier League stars like Matteo and Des Hamilton (who played for Newcastle United after three years at Bradford City) have on the players at Campion.

Speaking about Matteo, Ashforth said: “I don’t know him as well as James Bicknell (Campion’s other joint-manager) does, but certainly all of us at Campion wish him well, and we send our best wishes to him and his family for his recovery.

“I think for non-league in general, you aspire to be the best you can be so to have role figures like Dom and Des Hamilton (former player) associated with the club is important.

“We have a group of lads who look up to these people, so we want them in and around the place. (As president) Dom is a good figurehead to have at the club.”

Speaking about aspiring to be the best, Ashforth admits that Campion want to do even better than just get promoted.

They missed out on the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One title last year after losing their last game 4-2 at Grimsby Borough, who went up instead.

There are four teams going up this year rather than one, but Ashforth says his team still want the ultimate prize.

He said: “The club missed out in the last game last year, which was like a cup final. I think it was the first time only one had gone up so it was massively disappointing.

“This year it’s four but that’s not our target. We want to win the league. I know we just need top four to do do it, but I see that as a negative attitude. We aim to win.

“But we are nine points behind (leaders) Skegness Town now, so we need to be quite quick to close it down (the gap).”