We are determined to build for the future, says Stones boss Jay Saunders

JAY SAUNDERS has been confirmed as Maidstone United’s manager for next season.

The central midfielder took over from Andy Ford and Steve Butler as caretaker manager in mid-March and made an immediate impact with five wins in the final seven games of the season. However, despite being one of the in-form sides in recent weeks, the club was relegated from the Ryman League Premier Division at the weekend.

In a statement published on the club’s revamped website www.maidstoneunited.co.uk,  chief executive Bill Williams said, "We are delighted to announce Jay Saunders as our permanent manager. The directors have been most-impressed by the way he took over a team which was at a low ebb and steered it to within a game of safety. He injected some pride and passion into what has been a dismal season.

"We have every confidence that Jay and his management team will hit the ground running as we aim to make an immediate return to the Ryman Premier."

Saunders has signed a one year rolling contract. He will continue to be assisted by Alan Pouton and the coaching team of John Brook and Murray Carcary.

Saunders, who lives in Bearsted said, "I am really pleased that the role has been made permanent. I have been really keen to move into management and to do so with my boyhood team is particularly special.

"The Hornchurch defeat and the club's relegation was a massive disappointment. When I took over in March many said survival was virtually impossible. To have come so close made it all the more harder to accept.

"However, we are determined to build for the future, especially with the return to Maidstone so close. I have already started making plans for next season so we're in the best position to challenge for promotion."

With the dust barely settled on a first ever relegation for The Stones, plans are afoot for making an instant return to the Ryman Premier League.

The first player to commit pen to paper on a contract is Ellis Green who agreed terms with the club this week. Ellis has made a strong and positive impact on Maidstone’ s supporters with his exciting style of attacking wing play since joining the club in March.

Green, 24, had spent time away from football prior to joining Maidstone due to “just not enjoying playing.” However, his return to the game with The Stones has rekindled his appetite for football.

Green said: “I’ve really enjoyed it at Maidstone so far and with Jay as manager the atmosphere in the dressing room is very good. I’ve had a few other clubs come in for me already but the club have made it very clear to me that they wanted me to stay and I’m pleased to do that.”

Article courtesy of www.maidstoneunited.co.uk