Steve Watt says Maidstone youngsters will have to grow up fast under their new manager.

Caretaker boss Watt feels there's plenty of talent in the squad but inexperience has shown at times.

He said after Saturday's defeat at Salford the team don't do the basics well enough - and age is a big factor in that.

Watt said: "They need to grow up as players and I don’t mean that as a disrespectful term.

"I mean that as when you’re coming into men’s football, that’s the adjustment a few players need because there’s a lot of ability.

"We’ve always said it. The ability’s a very big factor within that squad but it maybe needs help with a little bit more experience.

"You look at sides in this league and there’s a youthful element but there’s also a good mixture of experience in there.

"Against Salford we had two players over 24, one of those being the goalkeeper.

"You look at that and maybe it's naivety in our decision-making.

"In-game things that happen, that lead to chances, those little decisions are the ones that cost you."

Maidstone continue to work on a replacement for Jay Saunders, with Watt happy to hold the reins for as long as required.

He hasn't applied for the job but that doesn't necessarily rule him out.

If he's not the boss, he could revert to his assistant manager role - if required.

He said: "That’ll be down to the club, down to the next manager.

"I always said if the club wanted to have a conversation I’m more than willing to do that but it’s completely down to the football club and the next guy in charge.

"I’ve always said my love for the football club in that I’ll do whatever’s needed to be done.

"If this is my last game, it’s my last game and I move on like I did before."