Maidstone player-manager Jay Saunders says he hopes his new-look squad have enough quality to blend quickly after a summer of upheaval at the club.

Saunders (pictured) has seen several key players depart following Maidstone’s relegation to Ryman League, Division 1 South at the end of last season.

But he has brought in a string of new faces to ignite hopes of a title charge next season and says he remains in the market for a new forward.

He said: "We have already brought in a lot of new players and, in an ideal world, we wouldn’t want to be bringing too many players in over the summer because you’d like to keep a settled side but at the end of the day, we got relegated so it has not been possible.

"You are never guaranteed that your new signings will gel, especially when you are changing a large part of your team but the players we have brought in are quality and we should have a good side.

"Hopefully, they will be able to gel quickly and we can have a real good go this season."

This week Saunders added experienced utility player Tommy Osborne from Margate and handed a deal to promising teenage midfielder Sean Johnson, who has come through the ranks at the club.