Two Maidstone United directors who represent a major shareholder in the club have resigned from their positions on the board.

Oliver Ash, who represents Richmond Participations, and Patrick Hole who is an advisor to the group, have both stepped down in order to ‘keep their options open’ after agreeing a loan to the Stones a year ago.

Richmond acquired a 25% stake in Maidstone and lent money to the club in February 2008 when they were bidding for a grant to build a ground at Whatman Way in the county town. That bid was rejected and the loan will be due within the next year but the group says they will support the Stones through the tough current economic conditions.

Chairman Paul Bowden-Brown says he will restructure the club and is planning to delegate some duties to general manager Bill Williams and other members of the executive committee.

He said: “This development has not only given me the opportunity to take a hard look at how the club is organised and financed, but also provides the opportunity to reflect on some past experiences.

“Together with my colleagues I have decided to review our plan to secure the club’s immediate future and then plan the best way to bring the club home to Maidstone as quickly as possible.”

Yesterday we told you that Maidstone had ended their groundshare with Sittingbourne and were in talks about moving to Ashford Town’s Homelands stadium.