by Alex Hoad

How best to pay-off Maidstone's creditors appears to be the reason why takeover talks between Lashings and the Stones shareholders have broken down.

Club officials say they were unable to allow the takeover to progress with new FA guidelines regarding the payment of creditors believed to be the reason.

Last week former Stones player Glenn Aitken - acting as representative for Lashings supremo David Folb - asked the Stones directors what it would take for them to step aside.

Mr Aitken said initial talks had thrown up a figure which Lashings considered 'unreasonable' and with the two parties 'miles apart' according to Mr Aitken, talks were ended late on Friday in an email sent from the club to Lashings.

Stones chairman Paul Bowden-Brown (pictured) - who has repeatedly said he will step aside should the right deal be in place for the club - said: "To enable a successful takeover we have to adhere to certain criteria set down by the Football Association and our own league.

"It has not been possible at this stage to reach a conclusion which would abide by those rules in our considered opinion."

Rumours abound that an alternative takeover - possibly one centred around existing investor Oliver Ash - is already in the pipeline and is the reason why the chance of a Lashings deal has been allowed to pass.

Mr Bowden-Brown said: "The current shareholders have agreed to consider all other options available to them and to this end will hold further talks early this week to try and agree a satisfactory way forward."

He added: "While I understand this news will lead to some uncertainty, may I reassure supporters that we, the shareholders, want to be able to reach an agreeable resolution in a matter of days.

"I would personally like to thank David and Glenn for their interest in the club and the professional manner in which they have conducted their negotiations with both myself and my investors."