Exclusive by Matthew Panting

Shareholder Oliver Ash is still hoping to take over Maidstone – despite talks breaking down with chairman Paul Bowden-Brown.

In his first full interview since his company, Richmond Participations, invested £100,000 into the Stones in February 2008, Mr Ash revealed that he would be willing to take control under the right circumstances.

"I’m prepared to carry on but unfortunately events and facts prevent it from happening in the current form," said Mr Ash (pictured), who was aiming to take control of the club alongside a business partner.

"The financial situation is a continuing concern to me and the local partner I was hoping to do things in Maidstone with. I felt that the situation was not tenable.

"We’d have to pay off a huge amount of debt on day one if we were to take over.

"We’d have to find £1million to build a ground and on top of that, you’d have to pay off the debts."

FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S KENT MESSENGER