BUSINESSMAN David Folb says he would not need grant funding to bring Maidstone United back home to the County Town, if he took over the club.

The millionaire owner of all-star cricket team Lashings confirmed he was interested in buying the club, following chairman Paul Bowden-Brown’s announcement last week that Maidstone United is to be put up for sale.

And he said his priority would be to bring The Stones -who currently ground-share with Sittingbourne - back home to Maidstone.

“I’ve always been interested in buying it” he said, “there’s no question about it; it’s not a secret.

“I have one priority - apart from making it financially sound - my priority would be to bring the club back.”

But while the club’s current board is pursuing funding for it's new ground from the Stadia Improvement Trust, Mr Folb says he would not pursue such assistance.

He added: “I’ve never gone down the route of funding; we have a different priority. I’ve never gone to anyone with a begging bowl and said 'give me money'. I’m not even sure we would need it. If there’s a business plan in place, why can’t it be funded by a bank?

And he added: “With the greatest respect, my cricket team is bigger than the football club. Could I do it off my own back? Possibly not, but I wouldn’t find it ominous.

“I look at this possibility and to me it makes commercial sense - that’s if it was playing in Maidstone.

My view is it would be extremely easy for it to be successful. There’s many different ways to raise revenue; you would have a stadium of sorts and you would be able to put on great events, with football matches being the priority.”

Current chairman Paul Bowden-Brown said he was willing to hold discussions with Mr Folb.

“We’re old adversaries” he said “whatever we get involved in we try to make it work. He’s a genuine person. He’s proven in business and if he can get us going forward then good luck to him.”

Mr Bowden-Brown ruled out a financial partnership but said he was willing to work closely with Mr Folb in discussing the future of the club.

“It’ll be a meeting over a beer; a meeting of minds. His business expertise and my knowledge of the football club could be a great partnership.”