Stones swoop for Kent League star defender - EXCLUSIVE

Maidstone United joint-manager Lloyd Hume is expected to sign two “significant” players within the next two weeks as the club prepares for life in Ryman League Division One South next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Kent League double winners are expecting to sign a centre half, who impressed Hume and Alan Walker whilst playing against the Stones last season - and a central midfielder whose played at a higher level.
 
But central midfielder Neil Miller is expected to play next season, having recovered from his knee injury sustained at Tunbridge Wells last November.
 
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk, Hume revealed tonight: “We’re talking to two players that are significant that will add lots to the squad.

”If we add one we’ll be delighted, two, we’ll be over the moon.

”We both feel we have got a very good squad to compete in the next league.  We have to make sure the players are better than we’ve got already – all of which are staying.”

Hume feels their central defensive target will have the same impact as Mario Celaire did when he switched from Beckenham Town last summer.
 
He said: “One will bring experience, he’s been there and done it in more higher levels and the other one brings a certain quality like Mario did.”

Obviously managers keep names of their targets close to their chests at this time of the year to prevent their rivals from stealing them from under their grasp.

But Hume added: “He’s someone who impressed us last year, like Mario the year before.”
 
That comment will have the Stones’ faithful thinking which defender impressed them last season and speculating who they think they’ll be plucking out of Kent League football.

Hume revealed the club have agreed terms with every player from last season’s squad, and he added: “We’ve had our meetings with the chairman.  We’ve set our expectations on both sides.

”We want to consolidate and finish in the top half of the table and set the right foundations so we can take a couple of steps forward when we move back to Maidstone.


“The ground takes precedence with the money, and although we won’t be the highest or the lowest paid side in the league, me and Alan (Walker) are still quietly confident with the players we’ve got.”

The Stones are relishing some mouth-watering Kent derbies against Ashford Town, Chatham Town, Cray Wanderers, Dartford, Dover Athletic and Sittingbourne next season, and these games should attract a big following.

”I think it will be good with some of the local derbies and I think it will re-event some of the old Maidstone fans with the interest they’ve got,” said Hume.

Maidstone United host Beckenham Town – the side that finished as Kent League runners-up last season – in the Kent League Challenge Shield at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne on Saturday, 5^th August.

Before that though, they travel to Hythe Town (15^th July), Thamesmead Town (18^th July), Bournemouth (22^nd July), Bly Spartans (29^th July), Folkestone Invicta (31^st July) and Lordswood (3^rd August) for pre-season friendlies.

Their Ryman League campaign gets underway on Saturday, 19^th August.