George Elokobi says Maidstone’s recruitment is very much a team effort.

Elokobi gave a debut to Kevin Berkoe at Solihill on Saturday, having signed the left-back on loan from League 2 club Solihull until the end of the season.

He follows the recent arrivals of wide players Mark Marshall and Josh Shonibare, as Maidstone fight to stay in the National League.

Elokobi has been learning on the job as caretaker manager, with his positivity, motivational qualities and tactical awareness in difficult circumstances impressing the Stones hierarchy.

Recruitment is another major part of management, of course, and Elokobi, who takes Maidstone to Wealdstone tonight, says it’s about working with those around him.

“It’s not just myself,” he said. “Behind the scenes there’s obviously the scouting department that helps us out as a management team.

"We come together, we analyse the player and see if he’s going to be right fit for us, for the way we play and also the right character to join with our squad.

“There’s several factors when we want to try and bring a player in to ensure that he fits with our philosophies and our values as a club.

"For someone like Kevin to come to our attention it’s all about the scouting team we’ve got in Zach Foster-Crouch (chief scout) and he identifies a lot of these players.

“Also, when he does this, we do a lot of due diligence behind the scenes to make sure he’s the right fit for our group of players and Kevin definitely fits that.

“That’s why we’ve got the management team and everyone plays a key role within that set-up.

“I’ve got a fantastic management team behind myself.

"As a club, we’ve got a great set-up behind the scenes and we have to keep going and keep trying to improve the squad as and when we see fit.

"We run through different departments to make sure we’ve got the right ones in.

“That’s how we want to do things going forward at Maidstone, where we try to make the right decisions.

“It doesn’t just fall down to the manager who is in change. No. It’s the management team and a lot of people behind the scenes to make sure it’s right fit for our football club.”

Maidstone, nine points from safety with 10 games remaining, are looking for a first win in 16 matches at Wealdstone.

They have it all to do against a home side who boosted their play-off hopes with a 4-0 win over Altrincham at the weekend.

Elokobi, whose side lost 2-0 at Solihull, said: “This is the beauty of football where the next game is so close to us.

"I’m sure the players will be chomping at the bit to play against a good Wealdstone side.

"We know good they can be on their day. Three points is not going to be handed to anyone in any football match.

"Everywhere you go, every team you come up against, they’re competing to gain three points as much as we are.

"We have to earn the three points. It’s not given, it’s earned."