Hakan Hayrettin is willing to ruffle a few feathers to get every last drop out of his Maidstone players.

Stones boss Hayrettin has no problem with a bit of tough love and says the squad know it’s nothing personal.

They moved level on points with National South leaders Dorking courtesy of Joan Luque’s late goal in a 1-0 midweek victory over Braintree.

And they’re out to maintain the pressure at Slough on Saturday, followed by a home game against Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night.

“Sometimes I say things to get the best out of the players and they might not like me for a week,” said Hayrettin, whose side came from 2-0 down to beat Hungerford 3-2 last Saturday.

“But there’s a unity in the squad where they understand it’s not personal, it’s business.

“I ruffled a few feathers on Tuesday night and on Saturday.

“It goes one of two ways but what you want is a squad that’s strong enough to accept it and learn from it.

“The boys are giving me everything they’ve got and I’m pushing them to the max to give me even more.

“From mine and Terry’s (assistant manager Terry Harris) experience, before you know it, the season’s gone and it’s who keeps their nerve.”

The Braintree game was tight, with the visitors setting their stall out to be difficult to beat.

That will be a common theme during the run-in and Maidstone will be ready.

“What I know is every game we win, it’s like a stab in the heart to the other teams around us,” said Hayrettin.

“We’ve just got to make sure we keep grinding these results out, whether it’s 1-0 or 2-1.

“Slough won’t be easy, Dulwich won’t be easy, we have to keep working hard and that’s what we’ll do.

“We’re never going to play expansive, exciting football every week and when we do, teams are going to drop off and make it difficult but one thing I can guarantee the supporters is hard work.

“Results matter more than performances, not that the performance was bad on Tuesday, but I need to stress to supporters that sometimes it may not be pretty and free-flowing but we’ll find a way to win.”

Barring a disaster, Maidstone should at least be in the play-offs.

They have a 17-point cushion over eighth-placed Eastbourne but Hayrettin is taking nothing for granted.

“My focus now is on getting as many points as I can,” he said.

“We looked at March, we’ve got four games at home and two away to get as many points as we can.

“After that there’s not many games left and before you know it the season’s over.

“Nothing’s done until you’re mathematically secure.

“Even though we grizzle and we moan and we’re never happy, we want to get everybody on side to make sure they understand what’s required to be in the play-offs or to win a league.

"We’re talking from experience here.”

Hayrettin has added to his squad by bringing Hady Ghandour back on loan from Charlton.

The Lebanon international striker made five appearances between October and November in his previous spell.

“We’re just recruiting players to make sure we push,” said Hayrettin.

“I feel terribly frustrated that I can’t get Mo Bettamer involved at the moment because the team’s doing well.

“But we’ve added Hady, Johl Powell’s come in and we’ve still got our skipper, George Elokobi, who’s phenomenally influential to me on and off the pitch. Everyone’s pushing.”