THE boss of the star-studded cricket club Lashings, David Folb, says he wants to buy Maidstone United FC.

The well-known businessman says his flourishing celebrity cricket empire will give him the financial muscle to take Stones back to the Football League.

And Maidstone did not immediately reject Folb's approach.

"We are always open to partnerships and to people getting involved with us," said Stones' general manager Bill Williams.

But he expressed surprise that Folb had chosen the columns of the Kent Messenger to launch his plan.

"David knows both me and (chairman) Paul (Bowden Brown) well enough to pick up the phone and say, 'let's meet'", said Williams.

Folb has revealed the Lashings Cricket Club celebrity team has attracted major sponsors in recent months and raising cash to buy the club would not be a problem.

Folb, who once played for the Stones against Manchester City in a testimonial game, stressed: "There's cash around at the moment. I've always been a Maidstone fan and I've wanted to get involved with the Stones for a long time."

Folb has also freed himself up for new ventures by recruiting a London barrister to run the day-to-day affairs of the cricket club from a base in Essex. He has also sold his stake in the Lashings bar in Maidstone although it remains open under the same name.

He added: "I'm a Maidstone boy and I want this town to have a Football League club. We deserve it and I can bring my experience in cricket to bear," he said.

"With the new ground, Maidstone are going to need funding in the next few years and my contacts in this industry are second to none."

Maidstone have been left in the lurch since sponsorship money from controversial betting syndicate company KF Concept dried up. "We have had to tighten the purse strings," said Williams.

Mr Williams said Bowden Brown, widely revered for guiding plans for a new town centre stadium to fruition, had no plans to retire, despite not being in the best of health.