Maidstone boss George Elokobi won’t shy away from giving his players a “kick up the bum” from the touchline.

Elokobi is one of the more vocal managers during games and that was particularly true in the Stones’ 0-0 draw at Welling on Tuesday night.

He had plenty to say throughout - a combination of coaching, encouragement and letting players know when more was required.

Some managers prefer to stand and observe but Elokobi feels he can make a difference by getting involved from the dugout.

“It is intense,” said Elokobi, who takes side his to Weston in National League South this Saturday (3pm).

“We try and pass on information to the squad.

“We’re trying to make sure we look after individuals, especially the ones that are a bit closer to us, to pass on the information to the ones that are further away.

“It’s important we acknowledge when we haven’t quite got things right on the pitch to pass on information as soon as we see fit.

“If we don’t, it might end up costing us and it’s our job to see it and remind the players because sometimes complacency can kick in.

“We have to keep them on their toes and switched on at all times, to be organised on the pitch.

“The players know, whatever we’re saying to them, it might be that little kick up the bum to get them going again.

“It’s knowing your squad and knowing your individuals, knowing what you can say to them to get them going, to get the right reactions.

“We’re not there to bring them down, we’re there to encourage them.

“We know the effort they’re putting in on the pitch. They’re running themselves into the ground for our team, for our football club, for themselves, their families.

“The higher you go, no disrespect to the National League South, but you might play in front of thousands, and you can’t make yourself heard.

“You saw it last season when we went to Chesterfield, I couldn’t even pass on information to a player who was 20 yards away from me because of the noise the fans make.

“But, in this environment, it’s important you stay engaged, you stay connected to the team.

“We’re in it together. It’s not them by themselves.”

Maidstone climbed to third with the draw at Welling, six points behind leaders Yeovil.

While not at their best, they’ve extended their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions.

They last lost a league game against Aveley on September 5 and Elokobi knows the importance of grinding out results when things aren’t going for you.

“We’ve seen it sometimes where we’ve played brilliantly and we’ve lost,” he said.

“So it’s credit to the group that even when we don’t play the champagne football everyone wants to see, that we don’t lose.

“We haven’t lost many times this season (just two league defeats in 13 games) and it’s important we keep building.

“It’s brick by brick, we’ll keep stacking the bricks and we’ll keep improving as a squad.

“That’s our job and the players know that and long may it continue.”