Terry Casey wants Jay Saunders to be Maidstone manager for many years to come.

Co-owner Casey is proud of the fact United kept faith with Saunders during a 17-game winless run which threatened their National League status.

Plenty of clubs would have made a change but the Stones board never entertained the idea of sacking a man who's brought huge success.

Casey said: "This club is run differently to that. I want to run this club with integrity and Jay is a man we've put all our faith in.

"We've never had any doubts about his ability.

"He's here for the trip, Jay, I've got no thoughts or intentions of looking elsewhere.

"Of all the managers I've seen in the dugouts, this is the man that does it with the most integrity, the most dignity and he's here for the duration. He's a top-drawer manager."

Casey has nothing but admiration for the way Saunders led Maidstone to safety after a difficult period.

He added: "I think he went home a few times and found it difficult to keep his head up.

"He takes the pressure and the stress very seriously and he and his family find it difficult because they are so conscientious and so determined for us to do well as a football club.

"You can't help but take it home. All of us did for a while, we were all beginning to worry for our future but Jay kept his dignity, kept his class and we're very proud of what he's done for us.

"We got there and we deserve to stay in this league.

"There were low points but you've got to hand it to Jay and the players and the supporters. The level of support has been unbelievable."

Maidstone are set to increase their budget next season but will continue to live within their means.

Casey said: "We've got to find a formula to get us in that top eight or top 10 so we can stop having these sleepless nights.

"We've got to come up with something different because for two years we've been flirting with relegation.

"Next season we'll have a budget that will be in the top half of the league in the hope we can compete but we're not going to fly away with silly ideas about spending more and more on the team.

"We've still got a business to run."