Stones management team back stadium priorities

Friday 03rd November 2006

Maidstone United’s joint managers Lloyd Hume and Alan Walker are backing the club’s return to Kent’s county town.

They met with club chairman Paul Bowden-Brown following his decision to proceed with the development of the new stadium at James Whatman Way under his own steam.

They discussed the immediate aims of the club and ways of making savings that could be redirected towards the building costs.

Alan Walker told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk : “I must applaud the chairman for his decision to proceed with the stadium. Everyone on the playing staff knows how important it is for the club to come back to Maidstone and all being well, we will be very proud to lead the players out at our homecoming fixture."

Mr Bowden-Brown personally assures that the club is correctly financed and proceeding with the new ground has placed an additional burden on him:

The chairman said: “I have taken on a large project in addition to the every day-to-day funding of the club. I had a very positive meeting with the management team and we were all in agreement that building the new stadium is a priority, ahead of any additions to the playing budget or staff.”

Work on the stadium is expected to start in the New Year and it will be available for use during the 2007/08 season.

The Maidstone United Supporters Club recently donated £2,000 towards the project and people can pledge their support via the club’s website at: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

The money will go towards the club's ground appeal fund. Chairperson Angela Reed said: "Over a period of time, the Supporters Club has gained a fair amount of money through donations, membership, away travel etc.

“Therefore, to assist the club further we have donated £2,000 to the ground fund. In addition to this donation we are also sponsoring the management team of Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume.

“As the sponsorship package comes with a club shirt, we will use these for future fundraising, so watch this space."

Ryman Premier League side Ashford Town (Middlesex), the team that knocked the club out of the FA Cup earlier in the season, are the visitors to Bourne Park on Sunday in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

“Our season so far has been hit-and-miss and very inconsistent and something that we are over,” Hume told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“I don’t think revenge is the right word as we know what we are going to get. We know when we play teams at a higher level they will punish you.

“The season so far is as planned. We openly said in the press that we are looking for a top half position and we said we hope to push for the play-off’s.

“We’ve lost players, other clubs are spending more money than us. We lost Nick Barnes to Dartford and he was one of our highest earners.

“Our priority this year is to have a solid season in this league and next season we want to have a go at it.”

Midfielder Sam Tydeman (hamstring) is a big-doubt for Sunday’s game.

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

Maidstone United v Ashford Town (Middlesex)
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Sunday 5^th November 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Sittingbourne FC, Bourne Park, Central Park Complex, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB