Manager Jay Saunders is putting his faith in a new approach as Maidstone look to make an impact in National League South.

United took the direct route to win the Ryman League, Premier Division title last season.

But Saunders feels United need to play more football to compete against better sides at the next level and has signed players like Joe Healy and Bobby-Joe Taylor, who thrive in possession.

Saunders said: “In the Ryman Premier, it was a battle nine times out of 10.

“You got the odd footballing side but if you look at the majority of teams who get out of that league, they’re well organised and big and strong.

“Now we’ve gone up a level, you can probably see with the players we’ve brought in that we’ve tried to change it a little bit.

“There’s better quality in this league and you’re going to get punished if you’re not on it.

“In the Ryman you could have a bad game and still come away with three points but I don’t think that’s the case now.

“But it’s not a change completely. You’re going to go to grounds where the pitches aren’t great and you’ll need to be big and strong."

Read more from Jay Saunders in this Friday's Kent Messenger newspaper.