Maidstone boss Jay Saunders wants a big squad for next season’s promotion challenge.

United this week announced their sixth summer signing with the arrival of defender Stephen Butcher following his release by Gillingham and confirmed new deals for midfielders Alex Brown and Charley Robertson.

Saunders said: “I want a bigger squad next year. I’m always looking and if someone comes up who fits the bill, we’ll see what we can do.

“Nobody’s happy when they aren’t playing and I wouldn’t expect them to be. If people are playing well, they keep the shirt and if not, somebody else will get a chance. If you have a big squad and you’re doing well, then people can’t moan."

There’s plenty of competition in central midfield with Brown and Robertson in contention along with Jack Parkinson, James Rogers, Michael Phillips and Dan Parkinson.

It’s likely to be two from six, with Saunders reluctant to move away from his preferred 4-4-2 in favour of a three-man midfield.

He added: “You look at it when you bring people in and think you know what you’re going to do but everything can change in pre-season, so I couldn’t say at the moment who would start the first game.

“Sometimes you have to play with a three in modern-day football but I’ve always liked 4-4-2 because of the wide boys we have.”