Boss Alan Dowson has reassured defender Kieran Murphy his place at the club is safe, despite adding to his defensive ranks this week.

The Beavers, who are looking for somehwere to put up star centre back Moussa Diarra, signed former Chelsea defender Daniel Pappoe on Monday after Satutrday's 2-2 draw with Harrow Borough.

Murphy has spent much of the past five Ryman Premier League matches on the bench - along with fellow senior stars Charlie Moone, Eddie Hutchinson, Richard Paquette and Jerome Federico - as the club has secured three wins and two draws to surge into the play-off places.

Pappoe, who spent last season with Brighton & Hove Albion, played under Dowson at Kingstonian when the 21-year-old Ghanaian was on the books at Premier League Chelsea.

Dowson has admitted Hampton are throwing everything behind a promotion push this term and Murphy remains very much part of his plans.

"Kieran was our best player last season and the fact he is here on a two year contract shows you how  much I rate him," he said.

"He'll be here for this season and he will be with us next season because he is good enough to play whether we are in the division above or not." 

Meanwhile, Dowson has revealed he would love to add freescoring Dulwich Hamlet midfielder Daniel Sweeney to his ranks, but has not got the cash.

Sweeney, who starred under Dowson at Kingstonian, recently switched to Champion Hill from Ks and has scored in each of his first five appearances for his new club.

And the Beavers boss says that, while Hampton chairman Steve McPherson has loosened the purse strings a little at the Beveree, the club cannot compete with the league's big money men.

"I tried to sign him, but we had already paid money for Moussa [Diarra] and Josh Casey by then, so I couldn't justify another fee for Daniel," he added.

"I'd love to get him to the club. He is a great kid and was great for me at Kingstonian. I've always kept tabs on him.

"We are giving promotion a good go this season, but while we have increased the budget a bit, it is probably only the 12th biggest in the league.

"This division is wide open this year and about 14 teams will fancy their chances of getting in the play-offs at least."