"He'd been training at another football club, but he was still very, very interested in Forest Green," Hockaday told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
"I've always rated him - it was just the budget. I wasn't able to get as many players as I would have liked."
Ayres picked up a groin injury in the opening game of the 2009/10 season, making just nine appearances in the whole campaign as Rovers struggled.
He hopefully will be the first of one or two players we can get in to strengthen the squad
Dave Hockaday
It was assumed after he was not initially offered a new deal that he had played his last game for the club, but the club could afford to keep him if supporters raise enough money through the Green Grass campaign.
Standing for Give Regularly to Assist Squad Sponsorship, Grass is the scheme which sees subscriptions from supporters going directly into a ring-fenced fund to boost the playing budget.
With a total of only 13 players in his squad so far Hockaday appreciates all the help he can get: "If people want to buy his toe, his finger, his nose, his ear and contribute towards Lee Ayres and they think highly of him, then he hopefully will be the first of one or two players we can get in to strengthen the squad."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport