Terry Casey says Maidstone will be better prepared for the challenges of National League football this time.

United last reached non-league’s top flight years ahead of schedule after three promotions in four seasons under Jay Saunders.

Their 2016 play-off final win at Ebbsfleet opened the door to a level the club weren’t ready for at the time and it eventually caught up with them, ending in relegation after three years.

They’re looking forward to a return after winning the National South title and co-owner Casey believes things will be different.

“It’s just a wonderful experience being an owner of a football club that gets promoted into the big league,” said Casey.

“For us, it’s the equivalent of a Championship side moving into the Premier League, because that’s how big a deal it is, and I’m just delighted for the fans and the extraordinary support they’ve given us.

“We’ve built up to this, we were prepared for it because we were undoubtedly the best team in the league, so we knew something like this was coming.

“We’ve had three years in the National League where we were like rabbits in the headlights, we didn’t really know what was required and now we know.

“We know in terms of finances, we know in terms of quality of squad, quality of backroom staff and management and we’re ready for the National League.

“It’s a massive jump but we’ve got to meet it. In big games, this town can warrant a 3,000 average maybe in the National League.

“We have to work out where we get enough money to pay a playing squad enough to hold their own in the league.

“We’ve signed on players we thought were going to be good in the National League, we’ve renewed their contracts, and now we’re looking at players that are maybe proven National League players to bring along.

“On top of that, we’ve got a groundswell of youngsters, probably five or six, who we hope will start emerging, so the balance is looking quite good.

“We were planning for the National League anyway but we’re just going to accelerate the plans now.”

As well as agreeing contract extensions with Joan Luque, Regan Booty, Sam Corne and Joe Ellul during the season, Maidstone also moved early to secure the services of manager Hakan Hayrettin.

He signed his new deal in February and has gone on to lead the Stones to their first league title since Isthmian Premier glory in 2015.

“Hakan is so dedicated and professional,” said Casey.

“You couldn’t imagine him not winning the league at the end there, you just got that feeling he was a winner and he was going to make the players win games.

“He’s a great acquisition and he’s National League material anyway.

“He’s got experience at that level and I think we’re well and truly ready for the National League with a manager like Hakan and Terry Harris behind him.

“What he’s done is got players like Jack Barham, Joan Luque, Jerome Binnom-Williams, Gavin Hoyte, Joe Ellul, to play to the maximum of their capabilities.

“He’s somehow teased the very best out of these players and they will all tell you this is one of the best seasons they’ve had in their careers.

“That’s down to whatever Hakan’s done, and his coaching staff.”

As well as being more clued up on the National League, there’s no ground improvements to fund this summer either, potentially helping Hayrettin’s playing budget.

For 2016/17, the 3G pitch had to be replaced and the £750,000 Genco Stand was built to meet league capacity requirements.

“We don’t have to spend a penny on ground improvements, which is quite nice in a sense, because we can clear the decks when we’re doing our budgeting,” said Casey.

“We want to improve things here and there but we’re not having to do it, and that’s a different feeling.

“We’re going to do it in the fullness of time and it’ll be done in a nice, steady and measured way. All over the place we’re better prepared, the ground - everything.”

Pick up your copy of this week's Kent Messenger for an eight-page souvenir supplement celebrating Maidstone's promotion