Maidstone United’s expansion of the Gallagher Stadium is helping boss Jay Saunders in the transfer market.

A new main stand at the north end of the ground will increase capacity to 4,200 by the end of Stones’ first season back in the National League.

Saunders has so far added three players to his squad and he held talks with an experienced defender at the stadium this week.

The player was impressed by the club’s recent success on the field and their desire to grow off it.

Saunders said: “With the promotions we’ve had, we’ve had to improve the ground every year. It’s constantly evolving and it must be an attraction for players, to know the capacity will go up to 4,000. We’ll have a nice new stand behind the goal and a new pitch.

“The lad I met spoke to players that have played here and they all had good things to say. It’s a well-run club, the owners are doing everything the right way and it’s a great club to be involved with.”

Maidstone start their pre-season on Saturday and Saunders has given several unattached players the chance to impress him in training.

He said: “They’re not so much trialists in that we know a bit about them.

“I’ve been honest with them and said ‘what I’ve seen I like but I need to see a bit more of you and if you do well, there’ll be a deal here for you’. That’s the way we’re going."