There is still hope that we can make the play-offs, says Maidstone United boss Jay Saunders

Flisher, 21, broke into the first team in November 2009 after impressing for the Ryman under 18 side. With more than 160 appearances under his belt, the winger, famed for his long throw, has set-up numerous goals and scored more than 35.

Mills, 22, also came through the club’s youth system and has been a contract player for the past three years. Since making his debut in August 2010, the defender has gone on to make almost 200 appearances – the most of any in the current squad.

Saunders told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk:  “I am delighted – they’re two very important players for us. I love having them here and as I’ve sort of said if you had to replace the two of them you’d have a hard job. You know what you’re getting every week, they’re a pleasure to work with and it’s good we’ve got them tied up a bit longer.”

The Stones welcome Grays Athletic to The Gallagher Stadium tomorrow for their final Ryman Premier League game of the season sitting in seventh-place on 78 points.

In order to grab a play-off place, the Stones must hope that fourth-placed Lowestoft Town (81 points) lose at home to Harrow Borough; that fifth-placed Dulwich Hamlet (81 points) lose at home to third-placed Kingstonian (on 84 points) and that sixth-placed AFC Hornchurch (80) lose at home to Metropolitan Police.

The Stones’ goal-difference of +34, however, could work in their favour as it’s better than their rivals.

Saunders told the club’s website: “We will try not to worry about the other games tomorrow afternoon. When you are only needing one result to go your way you tend to find you keep one eye on how things are going but it’s different when you are relying on a couple of matches.

“It will be horrible if we don’t do our job and then the other teams slip up. We want to win the game and put on a decent performance to thank the crowd who have turned up in large numbers throughout the season as well as to take a bit of momentum into the new campaign.

“There is still hope that we can make the play offs but we know tomorrow’s game will not be easy.

“Grays have improved a lot since we faced them in the League Cup and have signed a number of good players which has led to them climbing up the table.”

Saunders has already highlighted targets that he would like to bring in during the summer.

He said: “I would like to get the squad for next season sorted out as soon as possible. If players have been contracted then I think they have to be dealt with by next week so now that we have sorted Alex Flisher and Tom Mills we are talking to Alex Brown and Zac Attwood. We already have Lee Worgan signed up and Frannie (Collin) is half way through a two year deal so we are making progress.

“I know the areas I would like to strengthen and I have a list of players that I would like to sign.

“We have had problems at centre half all season with injuries and we would like to strengthen in central midfield. We also want to add another striker to the squad.

“I sat down with Bill (Williams) and Terry (Casey) the other day and we spoke about the budget. It was a good meeting and I gave Terry a list. He will now go away and work on things and we all know the direction of where we want to take the club next season.

“If we don’t make the play offs we know next season will be tough. Margate will have a big budget and there are always a couple of clubs prepared to spend silly money.

“Terry and Oliver run the club well though and they don’t want us to end up in the same situation as we did previously so we won’t be held to ransom by players or be allowed to overspend on the budget.”

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