Maidstone boss Jay Saunders is pressing on after learning his budget for next season.

Saunders is in contract talks with his Ryman League Premier Division title winners and has also decided who to release.

He met with co-owner Terry Casey and chief executive Bill Williams on Tuesday to finalise a budget for the assault on Conference South.

Saunders said: “I’m happy with the budget – now it’s a case of trying to get the best squad we can to have another good season.

“It’s tricky because it’s not just down to me. I know players might be offered something elsewhere, like Zac Attwood with Margate last summer, and we might end up losing a couple. It’s logical that if you’ve won the league, you’re a sought-after player.

“I’d like to say we need no more than three or four players but I can’t say for sure because I don’t know if the ones I want to stay will stay.

“You have a list of targets you want but we look at all levels.

“Nine times out of 10 the better players are at higher levels but if there are good, young lads at a lower level who we feel will add to us, we’re open to that as well.”