Maidstone manager Jay Saunders believes he will be working with the strongest squad he’s ever had.

Saunders’ patience was rewarded this week with the signings of strikers Joe Quigley and Shamir Mullings.

He’s been holding out for them all summer and it’s been worth the wait after they signed one-year deals.

The pair add to what’s shaping up to be an impressive squad.

Saunders said: “It’ll be the strongest squad I’ve had. There’s loads of legs in it and loads of energy.

“We’re very young, that’s the only thing I would say.

“Other than Lee Worgan, Stuart Lewis, Seth Nana Twumasi and now Shamir, everyone everyone else is probably under 24.

“It’ll go one way or the other but what we have got is real good energy and players that are all hungry. That will make a difference.”

Quigley, a Republic of Ireland under-21 international, reminds the boss of last season’s star man, Joe Pigott.

He arrives at the Gallagher after leaving Premier League Bournemouth and counts Gillingham among his former loan clubs.

Mullings, meanwhile, has moved to Maidstone after leaving League 2 club Forest Green Rovers. The 24-year-old powerhouse had been training at Swindon.

Saunders said: “We’ve had to be patient. I don’t think people realise what goes on behind the scenes and how long these things take.

“I’ve been interested in them since the season finished and we’ve had to wait until now to get them done.

“It is a gamble waiting. Both were talking to Football League clubs and training with league clubs, so it’s one where we’ve taken our time.

“Shamir was living in Swindon and the opportunity came up to go in training there, so he had to look at it, and Joe’s a Bournemouth lad and he had Yeovil and a couple of others in for him.”

Quigley scored five minutes into his debut as Maidstone won 5-0 at Folkestone in a pre-season friendly on Monday night.

Saunders said: “There’s a lot of things in Joe that reminded me of Joe Pigott to a certain extent.

“He’s a great size, he’s got good touch and he’s someone I can work with.

“I liked his attitude when I met him. He was keen to get it done, he’s someone who wants to learn, wants to improve and wants to score goals.”

Saunders’ interest in Mullings goes back a couple of years when Forest Green signed him from Chelmsford.

The Stones boss said: “When he was at Chelmsford I remember going with Bill Williams to watch him and we were really keen but Forest Green got him.

“I tried to get him towards the end of last season as well but it wasn’t possible.

“He’s a big, powerful lad, he’s got good pace and I think it’s important with the way we want to play that we got a big man or two.

“They’ll be a real handful but both can play as well.”