Boss Jay Saunders is enjoying the pressure of managing a club with big expectations after Maidstone were installed as title favourites.

Bookmakers have made Stones 11/4 to win the Ryman League Division 1 South title, ahead of Dulwich (5/1) and Folkestone (6/1).

Saunders (pictured) said: "There are seven or eight teams who have spent a bit of money and will fancy their chances so it will be a tough league.

"I’m not going to start saying the bookies are right to make us favourites but I want to get promoted and if any manager says they don’t, then there’s something wrong.

"As a player, I always wanted to be somewhere that would push me and challenge me and it’s the same as a manager. I wouldn’t want to be at a club who are happy to finish mid-table every year.

"I thought we had enough to go up last year but I was wrong. Injuries cost us but we have a stronger squad this time."

Saunders is hoping to add to his squad by signing trialist right-back Ryan Cooper.

The teenager has impressed during pre-season and the Stones manager said: "Tommy Osborne is 33 now and he might be able to go through the season without getting injured but Ryan would be good competition for him."