Ash Jones has given Peacehaven a huge boost by reversing his decision to take a break from football.

The Magpies skipper was one of a number of departures following the club’s decision to release their three highest earners.

Jones and namesake Josh Jones both decided to stop playing while strikers Trevor McCreadie and Terry Dodd also left after Peacehaven released James Fraser, Joe Gatting and Sami El-Abd for financial reasons.

The Magpies were forced to cut their playing budget to protect the club’s future and free up some funds to spend on necessary ground improvements which have to be completed by March 31 in order for them to stay in Ryman premier.

The departures hit hard a squad that had been holding its own in their first ever season at this level after back-to-back promotions from the County League.

However, Ash Jones has now had a change of heart and will be back in the 16 when the Magpies host Hendon tomorrow.

Peacehaven will be looking to put a run of three straight defeats behind them – two of them since the financial cuts were made.

Manager Tony Coade, who took over just before Christmas, will hand a debut to youngster Max Taylor who dual-signed last week from Eastbourne Borough and was yesterday working on a couple of other potential signings including a goalkeeper with doubts about the availability this weekend of regular stopper Tony Di Bernardo.

Coade is delighted to have Jones back and insists he still has a good squad at his disposal.

He told The Argus said: “Ash is coming back. He has had a change of heart. He is Peacehaven through and through.

“We still have some fantastic players and always have done. These are the players I want to want a squad around.

“You have people like Lloyd Cotton who is a warrior, Tom Burton doesn’t want to play for any other club apart from Peacehaven and then you have people likes Dan McLoughlin, Jamie Brotherton, Tom Lawley who is close to fitness, Steve Metcalf, Jon Marzetti and Mark Knee.

“We are looking to bring in a striker but they are very difficult to come by and they cost a lot of money. At the moment we are searching to see if we can find a diamond from the lower leagues.”

Coade has also said teenage midfielder James Hammond, who recently returned from a long spell out, will start tomorrow after some impressive performances.