BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow has insisted that he has “no problem” with the club’s playing budget.

Prominent supporters took to social media last week, claiming that Bristow was not getting the support he deserved from the board of directors and that the budget had been cut.

They pointed out that while other teams in National League South have been adding players to their squads, most of Town’s summer business has involved re-signing last year’s players.

However, Bristow says he has no issues with the funds at his disposal and takes a different slant on the club’s summer business.

“I haven’t got any problem with the budget,” the Town boss said. “The chairman and the board have been very supportive of me.

“I look at things in another way. If players from our squad had gone to other clubs in this league, they would have been seen as huge signings. The fact that we have retained last year’s squad is massive for us.”

Basingstoke get their pre-season campaign under way with a home game against League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday (7.45pm), a game that will see ex-Town goalkeeper Joe McDonnell return to The Soccer AM Stadium.

The fixture was arranged as part of the deal that took McDonnell, a product of the Town academy, to Wimbledon last year. 

The 21-year-old, who made four league appearances for the Wombles in his first season at Kingsmeadow, is expected to return to Basingstoke and play in the game.

Bristow said: “The indications are that they are going to bring a very strong side and I think that Joe McDonnell will play. It will be a good chance to see him and look at how he has progressed over the last season.

“Wimbledon should bring a few supporters and it will be a good test for us. It’s a great game that will show where we are at. Players will get a good amount of time under their belts and it should set us up nicely for a good pre-season.”

In addition to giving time on the pitch to players who have already signed, Bristow plans to use the game to have a first look at several trialists.

However, three members of last season’s squad have not returned to Town for pre-season training. 

Striker Julian Owusu has joined Met Police, forward Sam Argent has returned to Hartley Wintney and midfielder Andrew Jenkinson is training with another National League South club as he looks for regular first team football.