Hakan Hayrettin has stressed his intention to continue as Maidstone manager.

The Stones boss moved to clarify comments made after yesterday’s 4-1 defeat at York City.

Responding to discontent among the fanbase, Hayrettin, speaking shortly after full-time, said: “I’ve had it since I’ve been here.

“I’ve been here four seasons and every season they’ve wanted me out. If they want me to go, I’ll go.”

However, he remains committed to the task of changing the club’s fortunes - they're second-bottom after losing at York - and leading them to National League safety.

“We’d just lost a game in the manner that we lost and things are sometimes said in the heat of the moment, with emotions running high,” said Hayrettin, speaking today.

“I’ve never wanted to go anywhere. I love this club, I’m passionate about my job and I’ve never shirked a challenge.

"I’ve had difficult times before. I’ve always pulled through and I’ll pull through again.

"I've got stick before, no doubt I'll get it again.

"But the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker and characters come through."

Two wins in 21 games, including six straight defeats, have left Maidstone in trouble.

They’re still only three points from safety, albeit having played three games more than the sides immediately outside the bottom four.

Hayrettin, who led United to the National South title last season, has always maintained he will keep them up.

“I still say we’ll stay up because I’m a fighter and I’m a realist and I’ll always give 100%,” he said. “I’m sure the players will as well.

“We’ve always turned it round before.

“We’ve worked hard but this season is more challenging than the rest of them.

“I still maintain the injuries we’ve had have killed us.

“You look at our back four. I keep having to shuffle the pack to try and get a team out.”

Hayrettin has also faced criticism for his decision to sign Yoan Zouma, the defender convicted after filming his brother kicking a cat, on loan from Dagenham.

He said the centre-back, who was sentenced to 140 hours’ community service, “deserved a second chance” and was “full of remorse” for what happened.

The arrival of Zouma has split opinion.

• Report: York 4-1 Maidstone

He had an uncomfortable debut, capped by a 30-yard own goal, as York won 4-1 having trailed to Jack Barham’s opener after only 58 seconds.

“We needed a defender, that’s for sure,” said Hayrettin.

“I think the kid has admitted (what he did) and paid his punishment. Everyone deserves a second chance.

“That’s what the situation was. He’s committed something, he’s served his time and he wants to get on with his life and he’s full of remorse.

“There have been a lot of other people who have done a lot worse things who have been given a second opportunity.

“Speaking to him, I had to make that decision to bring him in and I did ask the club if I could and I got the green light, so I did.”

Asked what he made of the reaction to the Zouma signing, Hayrettin added: “People have had adultery situations and stuff like that and been given a second chance.

“The kid didn’t commit the crime but was an accomplice to what happened. He admits it and he’s full of remorse.

“We needed a defender so I had to bring one in. We’re not flush with cash, so I had to go out and get favours.

“He was good today, apart from that he smashed it into his own net at 2-1. I thought, ‘My God, what is happening here?’.”

Maidstone led for all of five minutes at the Community Stadium, with 18-year-old Watford loanee Shaqai Forde levelling the scores, followed by Zouma’s own goal.

Teenager Forde went on to complete a hat-trick as United suffered a first-ever defeat by York in the sides’ 10th meeting.

Hayrettin said: “We go 1-0 up and then we let in that silly goal, and poor Zouma, I felt sorry for him. Yoan scored an own goal and then it was demoralising, wasn’t it?

“It’s three errors. Joe Ellul, however well he’s played, he’s played it back and they’ve scored the fourth goal.

“There’s Zouma scoring an own goal for the second goal and George Fowler not clearing his lines for the first goal. They’re basic errors, aren’t they?

“It’s a tough place to come when you go down.

“They’ve put on some experience and they had a go but we were 1-0 up and I thought we’ve got a good chance here and then we commit suicide.”