Only having one team go up autmatically in the Ryman League is harsh, says Jay Saunders

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager Jay Saunders says it’s harsh that only one of the 24 teams gets automatic promotion in the Ryman League.



The Stones are playing Ryman Premier League football this season after they finished runners-up to promoted champions Dulwich Hamlet and defeated Folkestone Invicta and Faversham Town at home in the play-offs.

Last season each of the three Ryman divisions had 22 clubs but this season each division will have 24 and every team must play 46 league games this season.

“It’s a lot of games and to have that many games and only have one go up automatically is harsh I think in this league,” said Saunders.

“It was harsh last year but there’s a lot of good teams in this league and I feel it’s important to get a big squad together because I think we’re going to need it.”

Speaking about the promotion system in non-league football, when it’s easier to get relegated than promoted, Saunders said: “I think it’s crazy to be honest at you. Look at some of these teams in the Ryman Prem and I think they can go up and cope at a higher level. It’s just a shame that it is like it is. We finished 20 points or whatever it was above Folkestone and we could have lost to them in the play-off semi-final.

“Everyone knows it and you have to get on with it. It has to be looked at because there’s some teams that can push on and sometimes you miss out. 

“You look at Lowestoft. They’ve made the play-off final three years’ running and they haven’t gone up and it’s harsh on teams like that.”

Maidstone United are in fourth-place in the Ryman Premier League with 10 points after four games and Saunders is satisfied with his side’s progress.

The Stones are only a couple of points behind early pacesetters Grays Athletic, who clinched the Ryman League Division One North title last season. 

However, the team that were promoted alongside the Essex outfit, Thamesmead Town, are rooted to the bottom and collected their first point of the season in midweek when Keith McMahon’s side were held to a goal-less draw by Metropolitan Police at Bayliss Avenue.

Saunders said: “Pleasing start, I think.  If you have offered me one draw and three wins at the start of the season I would have taken it.

“I can’t complain. I think we’ve improved in every game and we’re scoring goals and creating chances and looking quite good.

“Defensively we could be a little bit tighter but we’ve stepped up a level and the teams that you’re playing are that much better so it’s stuff we still have to work on but overall certainly a positive start.”

The Stones welcome Lewes to James Whatman Way on Saturday, before travelling down to Margate on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

Saunders said: “I don’t really look at the league table at this time of the season. The league is not won this early but we’ve started well. It’s nice to start well and they’ve (Lewes) done that and they’re a good side.

“Garry Wilson always has his sides well-organised. They’ll be hard working and they’re doing well so it certainly will be a tough one but if you look at our start all the games we’ve had have been tough and it’s another one that we have to deal with.

“We’re at home. We’ve started well and hopefully we can go into the game with confidence and with a bit of form.”

Saunders revealed the difference between teams in Ryman League Division One South and the Ryman Premier League.

“I think possibly the pace of it,” he said. “I think whenever you go up a league you normally find the forwards and defenders are that much better so I just think the intensity and the physical side of it as well is a little bit better.

“I think most teams in the top five in the Ryman South can cope and can hopefully do well in the Ryman Prem.”

Saunders says he always looks forward to his return to Hartsdown Park to face his former club Margate.

“I spent a long time there and I had some good years there and I always look forward to going back there,” he said.

“We had a good result down there in the Cup last year but they’ve a very different side there now.

“I know Craig Holloway and Simon Osborn well and they’ve brought in some good players and it’s another tough game but if you want to do well in leagues you have to go places like that and try and get results. We’ll go there and hopefully we can do that.”

Saunders added: “They’ve got a couple of players who I know well. Warren Whitely was with us on loan and he’s signed permanently there and they’ve got a bit of pace in the wide areas and they’ve got some big players who can cause you problems. They’re quite a big side.

“Matt Bodkin is a good player. In Craig Holloway they’ve got a top keeper.

“I think they’re hoping to have a good season. I think they’ll be one of the teams that will be up there again. It will be a tough game but we have to go there with the right attitude and we have to get Saturday out of the way first and then we can concentrate on that one.”

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Maidstone United  v  Lewes
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 24^th August 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ